Total-body skeletal muscle mass: estimation by a new dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry method

The first reports of accurate skeletal muscle mass measurement in human subjects appeared at about the same time as introduction of the sarcopenia concept in the late 1980s. Since then these methods, computed tomography and MRI, have been used to gain insights into older (i.e. anthropometry and urinary markers) and more recently developed and refined methods (ultrasound, bioimpedance analysis and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) of quantifying regional and total body skeletal muscle mass. The objective of this review is to describe the evolution of these methods and their continued development in the context of sarcopenia evaluation and treatment. Advances in these technologies are described with a focus on additional quantifiable measures that relate to muscle composition and ‘quality’. The integration of these collective evaluations with strength and physical performance indices is highlighted with linkages to evaluation of sarcopenia and the spectrum of related disorders such as sarcopenic obesity, cachexia and frailty. Our findings show that currently available methods and those in development are capable of non-invasively extending measures from solely ‘mass’ to quality evaluations that promise to close the gaps now recognised between skeletal muscle mass and muscle function, morbidity and mortality. As the largest tissue compartment in most adults, skeletal muscle mass and aspects of muscle composition can now be evaluated by a wide array of technologies that provide important new research and clinical opportunities aligned with the growing interest in the spectrum of conditions associated with sarcopenia.

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Estimating dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry-derived total body skeletal muscle mass using single-slice abdominal magnetic resonance imaging in obese subjects with and without diabetes: a pilot study

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition ◽

10.1038/ejcn.2012.3 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 66 (5) ◽

pp. 628-632 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

S T Baker ◽

B J Strauss ◽

L A Prendergast ◽

S Panagiotopoulos ◽

G E Thomas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽

Skeletal Muscle ◽

Skeletal Muscle Mass ◽

Dual Energy ◽

Resonance Imaging ◽

X Ray ◽

Abdominal Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽

Single Slice ◽

Obese Subjects ◽

Total Body

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Prepubertal Asians have less limb skeletal muscle

Journal of Applied Physiology ◽

10.1152/japplphysiol.01066.2001 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 92 (6) ◽

pp. 2285-2291 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Mi-Yeon Song ◽

Jaehee Kim ◽

Mary Horlick ◽

Jack Wang ◽

Richard N. Pierson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Skeletal Muscle ◽

Body Weight ◽

African Americans ◽

Muscle Mass ◽

Skeletal Muscle Mass ◽

Dual Energy ◽

X Ray ◽

Asian Children ◽

Appendicular Skeletal Muscle ◽

Prepubertal Girls

Skeletal muscle mass in prepubertal Asian children has not been examined previously. The aims of this study were to test the hypotheses that 1) prepubertal Asians have less appendicular skeletal muscle (ASM) mass compared with African-Americans and Caucasians, and 2) ASM is less in prepubertal Asian girls compared with Asian boys. ASM was estimated by using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in healthy prepubertal girls ( n = 170) and boys ( n= 166). The results showed that, after adjusting for age, height, and body weight, 1) Asian girls and boys had less amounts of ASM than African-Americans ( P < 0.001); 2) Asian girls had less amounts of ASM than Caucasian girls ( P = 0.004); 3) there was a trend towards less ASM in Asian compared with Caucasian boys ( P = 0.07); 4) and Asian girls had significantly less ASM than Asian boys ( P < 0.001). This study indicates that skeletal muscle mass as a fraction of body weight is smaller in Asian compared with African-American and Caucasian children.

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Lower limb skeletal muscle mass: development of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry prediction model

Journal of Applied Physiology ◽

10.1152/jappl.2000.89.4.1380 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 89 (4) ◽

pp. 1380-1386 ◽

Cited By ~ 71

Author(s):

Rick Shih ◽

Zimian Wang ◽

Moonseong Heo ◽

Wei Wang ◽

Steven B. Heymsfield

Keyword(s):

Skeletal Muscle ◽

Soft Tissue ◽

Muscle Mass ◽

Lower Limb ◽

Skeletal Muscle Mass ◽

Dual Energy ◽

Ischial Tuberosity ◽

Predictor Variables ◽

Prediction Equations ◽

X Ray

Although magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can accurately measure lower limb skeletal muscle (SM) mass, this method is complex and costly. A potential practical alternative is to estimate lower limb SM with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). The aim of the present study was to develop and validate DXA-SM prediction equations. Identical landmarks (i.e., inferior border of the ischial tuberosity) were selected for separating lower limb from trunk. Lower limb SM was measured by MRI, and lower limb fat-free soft tissue was measured by DXA. A total of 207 adults (104 men and 103 women) were evaluated [age 43 ± 16 (SD) yr, body mass index (BMI) 24.6 ± 3.7 kg/m2]. Strong correlations were observed between lower limb SM and lower limb fat-free soft tissue ( R 2 = 0.89, P < 0.001); age and BMI were small but significant SM predictor variables. In the cross-validation sample, the differences between MRI-measured and DXA-predicted SM mass were small (−0.006 ± 1.07 and −0.016 ± 1.05 kg) for two different proposed prediction equations, one with fat-free soft tissue and the other with added age and BMI as predictor variables. DXA-measured lower limb fat-free soft tissue, along with other easily acquired measures, can be used to reliably predict lower limb skeletal muscle mass.

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