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Assessment of appendicular lean mass in older adults
Author(s) -
Ellis Amy,
Gower Barbara
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.26.1_supplement.627.5
Subject(s) - medicine , lean body mass , body mass index , dual energy , dual energy x ray absorptiometry , fat mass , bioelectrical impedance analysis , protocol (science) , body weight , bone mineral , osteoporosis , alternative medicine , pathology
Objective Dual energy x‐ray absorptiometery (DXA) is a robust method to quantify appendicular lean mass (aLM), but cost and instrumentation limit the use of DXA beyond research purposes. Bioelectric impedance analysis (BIA) is a portable, inexpensive method to estimate fat‐free mass. In 1994, Organ et al introduced a simple BIA protocol to assess aLM from BIA [1]. The objective of this study was to compare estimates of aLM by this BIA protocol to the reference standard of DXA among healthy older adults. Methods Based on median body mass index (BMI; 27.4), 35 healthy men and women, ages 65–87, were categorized as low BMI (<27.4) or high BMI (≥27.4). Fat‐free mass of the upper and lower extremities was measured by DXA and BIA. Arm and leg lean mass from each method was summed for a composite of aLM. Results Although BIA aLM was correlated with DXA aLM (p<0.001), the mean percentage error between BIA and DXA was greater for men vs women (21.4% vs 4.0%) and among high BMI vs low BMI groups (15.8% vs 0.7%). Paired t‐tests confirmed that BIA underestimated aLM for men and those in the high BMI group (p<0.001). Conclusions Caution is warranted in the application of this segmental BIA protocol for older adults. These data suggest that estimates of aLM from BIA are significantly underestimated among men and individuals with BMI ≥ 27. This work was supported by 1F31AT005384‐01 and UAB Center for Aging.