Abstract
Sarcopenia is a serious condition especially in the elderly population mainly characterized by the loss of skeletal muscle
mass and strength with aging. Extremity skeletal muscle mass index (EMMI) (sum of skeletal muscle mass in arms and legs/height2) is gaining popularity in sarcopenia definition (less than two standard deviations below the mean of a young adult reference
group), but little is known about the gender- and population-specific differences of EMMI. This study aimed at investigating
the differences of EMMI, arm muscle mass index (AMMI), and leg muscle mass index (LMMI) between gender groups and populations
(Chinese vs. Caucasians). The participants included 1,809 Chinese and 362 Caucasians with normal weight aged from 19 to 45 years
old. Extremity muscle mass, arm muscle mass, and leg muscle mass were measured by using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry.
Independent sample t tests were used to analyze the differences in muscle mass indexes between the studied groups. All the study parameters including
EMMIs, AMMIs, and LMMIs were significantly higher (P ≤ 0.0003) in the Caucasian group than in the Chinese group and also higher in the male group than in the female group, and
these significant differences (P ≤ 0.0005) remained after adjusting for age by simple regressions. The detected differences of muscle mass indexes between
different gender and ethnic groups may provide important implications in their different risk of future sarcopenia.
mass and strength with aging. Extremity skeletal muscle mass index (EMMI) (sum of skeletal muscle mass in arms and legs/height2) is gaining popularity in sarcopenia definition (less than two standard deviations below the mean of a young adult reference
group), but little is known about the gender- and population-specific differences of EMMI. This study aimed at investigating
the differences of EMMI, arm muscle mass index (AMMI), and leg muscle mass index (LMMI) between gender groups and populations
(Chinese vs. Caucasians). The participants included 1,809 Chinese and 362 Caucasians with normal weight aged from 19 to 45 years
old. Extremity muscle mass, arm muscle mass, and leg muscle mass were measured by using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry.
Independent sample t tests were used to analyze the differences in muscle mass indexes between the studied groups. All the study parameters including
EMMIs, AMMIs, and LMMIs were significantly higher (P ≤ 0.0003) in the Caucasian group than in the Chinese group and also higher in the male group than in the female group, and
these significant differences (P ≤ 0.0005) remained after adjusting for age by simple regressions. The detected differences of muscle mass indexes between
different gender and ethnic groups may provide important implications in their different risk of future sarcopenia.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-7
- DOI 10.1007/s11556-011-0082-0
- Authors
- Kai Zhong, Laboratory of Molecular and Statistical Genetics and the Key Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Developmental Biology of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan 410081, People’s Republic of China
- Shu-feng Lei, Laboratory of Molecular and Statistical Genetics and the Key Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Developmental Biology of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan 410081, People’s Republic of China
- Fang Yang, Laboratory of Molecular and Statistical Genetics and the Key Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Developmental Biology of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan 410081, People’s Republic of China
- Xiang-ding Chen, Laboratory of Molecular and Statistical Genetics and the Key Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Developmental Biology of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan 410081, People’s Republic of China
- Li-jun Tan, Laboratory of Molecular and Statistical Genetics and the Key Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Developmental Biology of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan 410081, People’s Republic of China
- Xue-zhen Zhu, Center of Systematic Biomedical Research, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200093 People’s Republic of China
- Qing Tian, Center of Bioinformatics and Genomics, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
- Hong-wen Deng, Laboratory of Molecular and Statistical Genetics and the Key Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Developmental Biology of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan 410081, People’s Republic of China
- Journal European Review of Aging and Physical Activity
- Online ISSN 1861-6909
- Print ISSN 1813-7253