Associations Between Dietary Patterns and Handgrip Strength: The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2014-2016

Objective: The age-related decline in handgrip strength (HGS) is an important indicator of weakening muscle strength concomitant with aging and sarcopenia. This study was to investigate the association between dietary patterns and HGS. Methods: In this cross-sectional study of 7,624 adults aged 19-64 years who were enrolled in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2014-2016, we assessed HGS with a digital hand dynamometer while the participants adopted a standing position with their arms lowered. Their diets were examined with a food frequency questionnaire which included 112 food items and were categorized into 26 food groups. To determine the associations between dietary patterns and HGS, we employed a weighted multivariable linear regression model. Results: We identified two dietary patterns: the Prudent and the Western dietary patterns. Individuals in the highest tertile of the Prudent dietary pattern had the highest HGS scores (beta = 0.54, p < 0.001). No difference was found among the tertiles of the Western dietary pattern. Sex-specific stratification (2,953 men, 4,671 women) indicated that both sexes showed significant associations with HGS according to the tertiles of their factor loading scores in the Prudent dietary pattern (men, beta = 0.49, p = 0.014; women, beta = 0.51, p < 0.001). Conclusion: This cross-sectional study of 7,624 adults revealed a significantly positive association between HGS and the Prudent dietary pattern, even after adjusting for potential confounding factors.