Addressing Muscle Mass and Strength Loss: Nutritional Insights and Strategies
A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Clinical Nutrition".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 5 April 2026 | Viewed by 8672
Special Issue Editor
Interests: malnutrition; nutrition risk assessment; in-hospital patient care; sarcopenia; cachexia
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Hospitalization can reduce muscle mass and function, compromising functional capacity and recovery, especially in older people. Individuals who are bedridden due to situations such as stroke, hip fracture, cancer, trauma, critical illness, or any other injury that leads to hospital admission can develop an inflammatory process that can lead to reduced appetite, immobility in bed, insulin resistance, and other conditions that further leads to the poor nutritional status and muscle decline. In these cases, the loss of muscle mass is closely involved with reduced functional capacity, increased length of hospital stays, and mortality. In addition, outpatients who suffer from chronic disease, such as osteoporosis, heart failure, cirrhosis, COPD, and rheumatoid arthritis, are also at risk for muscle mass and functional decline.
Studies involving supplementation with specific or combined nutrients and physical exercise are being conducted to find ways to mitigate this loss and avoid its complications. Furthermore, research into serum biomarkers of inflammation, muscle degradation, and synthesis is promising in understanding the mechanisms involved in this muscle loss so that more specific and efficient strategies can be applied to hospitalized or outpatient individuals, both for exacerbated chronic diseases and acute diseases and events. However, there are already gaps in how to effectively reduce the burden of nutritional conditions during in-hospital stays or throughout chronic disease. This Special Issue aims to publish research that provides insights and strategies for mitigating muscle mass and strength loss during hospitalization or during the treatment of chronic diseases. Your contributions to this Special Issue are greatly appreciated.
Prof. Dr. Paula Schmidt Azevedo
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- in-hospital patient care
- diet
- malnutrition
- nutritional supplements
- frailty
- lifestyle interventions
- physical activity
- muscle loss
- muscle mass
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