Mitochondrial DNA haplogroups affect physical performances in Han older adults: an 8‐year follow‐up prospective cohort study

Aim The objective of this study was to explore the association between mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplogroups and physical performances in Han older adults. Methods This study was an 8-year follow-up prospective cohort study. A total of 104 Han older adults completed the measurements of the 6-min walk test, grip strength and mitochondrial DNA sequencing. The mtDNA haplogroups were classified by using HaploGrep2 software. We used the mixed model to analyze the longitudinal effect of mtDNA haplogroups on physical performance tests among three waves of data. Results The mean age at wave 3 among men and women were 78.3 and 77.2 years, respectively. The overall proportions of mtDNA haplogroups in this study population was 26.9% F, 21.2% M, 15.4% R, 14.4% D, 8.7% B and others. After adjusted for age, sex, ethnicity, body mass index and exercise, the interaction of mtDNA haplogroup M and waves significantly affected the 6-min walk distance. Notably, the adjusted mean of the 6-min walk distance among the group of mtDNA haplogroup M was significantly lower than other haplogroups at wave 3. The adjusted mean of grip strength among the group of mtDNA haplogroup R was significantly higher than other haplogroups at wave 3. Conclusions This finding suggests that mtDNA haplogroups might have effects on the 6-min walk test and grip strength in Han older adults, although studies of the physical performance of older adults with larger sample sizes are necessary to further substantiate these findings. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2021; 21: 166-171.