BACKGROUND Growth and differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) has been associated with obesity, muscle wasting, and cachexia. The receptor for GDF-15 was recently identified in the brainstem and regulates food intake and metabolism. The relationship of plasma GDF-15 with the age-associated decline of muscle mass and strength, gait speed, and physical performance in adults has not been well characterized. METHODS Plasma GDF-15, grip strength, 6-m gait speed, 400-m walking test time, lower extremity physical performance score, appendicular lean mass, and fat mass were measured in 194 healthy adult participants, aged 22-93 years, of the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging. RESULTS Plasma GDF-15 concentrations increased with age (p < .001) and were higher in whites compared with blacks and Asians (p = .04). Adults with higher plasma GDF-15 had slower 6-m gait speed, longer 400-m walking time, and lower physical performance score in multivariable analyses adjusting for age and race. Plasma GDF-15 was not associated with grip strength, appendicular lean mass, or fat mass. CONCLUSIONS Elevated plasma GDF-15 is associated with slower gait speed, higher 400-m walking time, and lower physical performance in very healthy community-dwelling adults. The relationship between plasma GDF-15 and sarcopenia-related outcomes may be stronger in the population not selected to be healthy, and this hypothesis should be tested in a representative population.

中文翻译：

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在健康社区居住的成年人中，血浆生长和分化因子15升高与步态速度慢和身体机能下降有关。

背景技术生长和分化因子15（GDF-15）与肥胖，肌肉消瘦和恶病质相关。最近在脑干中发现了GDF-15的受体，该受体可调节食物的摄入和新陈代谢。血浆GDF-15与年龄相关的成年人肌肉质量和强度，步态速度和身体机能下降的关系尚未得到很好的表征。方法对194名22-93岁健康成年人进行了测量，测定血浆GDF-15，握力，6米步态速度，400米步行测试时间，下肢身体成绩，阑尾瘦质量和脂肪质量。巴尔的摩老龄化纵向研究。结果血浆GDF-15浓度随年龄增加（p <.001），而白人高于黑人和亚洲人（p = .04）。在针对年龄和种族进行调整的多变量分析中，血浆GDF-15较高的成年人的步态速度较慢6米，步行时间较长，为400 m，而体能得分较低。血浆GDF-15与抓地力，阑尾瘦质量或脂肪质量无关。结论在非常健康的社区居民中，血浆GDF-15升高与步态速度较慢，步行400米的时间较长以及体能下降有关。在未选择健康人群中血浆GDF-15与肌肉减少症相关结局之间的关系可能更强，应该在有代表性的人群中检验这一假设。或脂肪块。结论在非常健康的社区居民中，血浆GDF-15升高与步态速度较慢，步行400米的时间较长以及体能下降有关。在未选择健康人群中血浆GDF-15与肌肉减少症相关结局之间的关系可能更强，应该在有代表性的人群中检验这一假设。或脂肪块。结论在非常健康的社区居民中，血浆GDF-15升高与步态速度较慢，步行400米的时间较长以及体能下降有关。在未选择健康人群中血浆GDF-15与肌肉减少症相关结局之间的关系可能更强，应该在有代表性的人群中检验这一假设。