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Body composition, energy expenditure and physical activity

The impact of DXA-derived fat-free adipose tissue on the prevalence of low muscle mass in older adults

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 73, pages 757–762 (2019)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background/objectives

To investigate the impact of eliminating fat-free adipose tissue (aFFAT) on the prevalence of low muscle mass in older adults.

Subjects/methods

Three hundred and forty-three (153 men and 190 women) well-functioning Japanese older adults (aged 65–79) had their appendicular lean mass (aLM) and appendicular fat mass (aFM) measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). aFFAT was then estimated from DXA-derived aFM (aFM = (FM/0.15)*0.85). Both traditional cutoffs and those corrected for aFFAT were used for diagnosing low muscle mass.

Results

With traditional cutoff values, the prevalence of low muscle mass using the unadjusted aLM index was 20.1%. After adjusting the aLM index for aFFAT, the prevalence increased to 49.0% (p < 0.001). However, when the cutoff values were also adjusted for aFFAT, the prevalence of low muscle mass only increased to 23.0% (p < 0.001). Further, ~5% of the participants (7 men and 8 women) were newly classified as having low muscle mass after correction for aFFAT. However, several women (n = 5) were not classified as having low muscle mass using the corrected cutoff value, although they would have been when using the non-corrected cutoff.

Conclusions

Adjusting for the effect of aFFAT on DXA-derived aLM significantly increases the prevalence of low muscle mass in older adults. For clinical research and practice, the influence of aFFAT on DXA-derived aLM may need to be taken into consideration when diagnosing low muscle mass.

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Acknowledgements

We extend our appreciation to the men and women who participated in this study. We also thank the graduate students and the staffs of the research project for their assistance in the testing of this study.

Author Contributions:

Conceived and designed the experiments: TAb, JPL, RST, EF, and TAk. Performed the experiments: TAb, EF, and TAk. Analyzed the data: TAb, JPL, and RST. Wrote the manuscript: TAb. Reviewed and critically revised the manuscript: JPL, RST, EF, and TAk. All authors approved the final version of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health, Exercise Science, & Recreation Management, The University of Mississippi, University, MS, 38677, USA

    Takashi Abe & Jeremy P. Loenneke

  2. Department of Kinesiology, Texas Wesleyan University, Fort Worth, TX, 76105, USA

    Robert S. Thiebaud

  3. Department of Sports and Life Sciences, National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Kanoya, Kagoshima, Japan

    Eiji Fujita & Takuya Akamine

Authors
  1. Takashi Abe
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Correspondence to Takashi Abe.

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Abe, T., Loenneke, J.P., Thiebaud, R.S. et al. The impact of DXA-derived fat-free adipose tissue on the prevalence of low muscle mass in older adults. Eur J Clin Nutr 73, 757–762 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-018-0213-z

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