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A technique to assess body composition and sarcopenia using DXA: application for an obese population

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 64, pages 218–220 (2010)Cite this article

Abstract

The objective of this study was to explore the accuracy of summing multiple dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans to estimate whole-body soft tissue measures and the sarcopenic index in female subjects for application to an obese population. Forty-five women who fit within the DXA scanning region (M±s.d.; BMI=24.5±4.6 kg/m2) were scanned four times (one normal whole body (WB) scan, one head/trunk/leg scan allowing trunk delineation (TRK–H–L), one scan with body shifted right (LA) and one left (RA) to allow arm delineation). Fat mass (FM) and appendicular lean mass were determined from the WB scan (aLMWB), with the latter determined by summing arm and leg mineral-free lean mass (MFLM). Strong agreement and no differences (M±s.d.DIFF) were found between FMWB and FMSUM (–0.12±0.38 kg, P=0.37; r=0.999, P<0.001); MFLMWB and MFLMSUM (0.02±0.36 kg, P=0.80; r=0.998, P<0.001); and aLMWB and aLMSUM (0.12±0.32 kg, P=0.63; r=0.994, P<0.001). Summing DXA scans is a valid method for determining the risk for sarcopenic obesity and may aid research regarding obesity and risk for disability.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA

    E M Evans, M M Misic & D M Mallard

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  1. E M Evans
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  2. M M Misic
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  3. D M Mallard
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Correspondence to E M Evans.

Additional information

Contributors: EME designed the experiment, analyzed the data and wrote the manuscript. MMM also designed the experiment, collected the data, cleaned the data set and edited the manuscript. DMM collected the data and managed the data set.

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Evans, E., Misic, M. & Mallard, D. A technique to assess body composition and sarcopenia using DXA: application for an obese population. Eur J Clin Nutr 64, 218–220 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2009.128

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2009.128

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