Association of milk consumption frequency on muscle mass and strength: an analysis of three representative Korean population studies

Purpose Sarcopenia is an involuntary loss of muscle mass, strength, and physical performance associated with aging. Sarcopenia contributes to adverse health outcomes. Milk contains essential amino acids important for maintaining muscle. We investigated the relationships among milk consumption frequency (MCF), muscle mass, and strength in Korean adults. Methods We analyzed the data from 16,173 adults in the 2008-2011 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES), 13,537 adults in the 2014-2016 KNHANES, and 8254 adults in the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES). MCF was divided into two groups: (1) MCF less than once per day (MCF < 1 group) and (2) MCF greater than or equal to once per day (MCF >= 1 group). Low skeletal muscle mass index (LSMI) was defined using the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health sarcopenia project criteria for low muscle mass. Muscle strength was measured using the hand-grip strength test. Results The odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for LSMI in the MCF < 1 group was 1.250 (1.013-1.543) after adjusting for confounding factors, compared with the MCF >= 1 group (2008-2011 KNHANES). The adjusted mean for hand-grip strength was higher in the MCF >= 1 group (2014-2016 KNHANES). After a mean follow-up of 9 years, fat-free mass/body mass index was higher in the MCF >= 1 group than the MCF < 1 group (KoGES). Conclusion We found that MCF >= 1 was significantly associated with higher skeletal muscle index and muscle strength than lower MCF. Milk consumption could help prevent sarcopenia in adults.