Air pollution and muscle-fat imbalance: How PM_2.5 components and ozone drive sarcopenic obesity through inflammation.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The combined impact of specific PM_2.5 components and ozone (O₃) on sarcopenic obesity (SO) remains unclear. This study examined the effects of PM_2.5 constituents and O₃ on SO risk and explored inflammation as a potential mediator.

Methods

We analyzed data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS, 2011-2015). SO was defined as the co-occurrence of obesity (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 28 kg/m²) and sarcopenia, the latter characterized by low muscle mass plus either low muscle strength or impaired physical performance. Air pollution data (PM_2.5, its components, and O₃) were derived from the Tracking Air Pollution in China database. Systemic inflammation was operationalized as a composite z-score from C-reactive prot

SUBMITTER: Li X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12835600 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature