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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Boston, Massachusetts » Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #360757
Title: Pitfalls in the measurement of muscle mass: a need for a reference standard

Author
item BUCKINX, FANNY - University Of Liege
item LANDI, FRANCESCO - Catholic University Of The Sacred Heart Italy
item MATTEO, CESARI - Toulouse University Hospital
item FIELDING, ROGER - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University
item VISSER, MARJOLEIN - Vu University Medical Center
item ENGELKE, KLAUS - University Of Erlangen
item MAGGI, STEFANIA - National Research Council - Italy
item DENNISON, ELAINE - University Of Southampton
item AL-DAGHRI, NASSER - King Saud University
item ALLEPAERTS, SOPHIE - University Of Liege
item BAUER, JURGEN - Carl von Ossietzky University Of Oldenburg
item BAUTMANS, IVAN - Vrije University
item BRANDI, MARIA - University Of Florence
item BRUYERE, OLIVIER - University De Liege
item CEDERHOLM, TOMMY - European Medicines Agency
item CERRETA, FRANCESCA - European Medicines Agency
item CHERUBINI, ANTONIO - Fondazione Irccs Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico
item COOPER, CYRUS - Oxford University
item CRUZ-JENTOFT, ALPHONSO - Instituto Ramon Y Cajal De Investigacion Sanitaria (IRYCIS)
item MCCLOSKEY, EUGENE - University Of Sheffield
item DAWSON-HUGHES, BESS - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University
item KAUFMAN, JEAN-MARC - Ghent University
item LASLOP, ANDREA - Austrian Agency For Health And Food Safety Ltd (AGES)
item PETERMANS, JEAN - University Of Liege
item REGINSTER, JEAN-YVES - University Of Liege
item RIZZOLI, RENE - Geneva University Hospital
item ROBINSON, SIAN - University Of Southampton
item ROLLAND, YVES - University Hospital Center Of Toulouse
item RUEDA, RICARDO - Abbott Nutrition
item VELLAS, BRUNO - University Of Toulouse
item KANIS, JOHN - University Of Sheffield

Submitted to: Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/12/2017
Publication Date: 1/19/2018
Citation: Buckinx, F., Landi, F., Matteo, C., Fielding, R.A., Visser, M., Engelke, K., Maggi, S., Dennison, E., Al-Daghri, N.M., Allepaerts, S., Bauer, J., Bautmans, I., Brandi, M.L., Bruyere, O., Cederholm, T., Cerreta, F., Cherubini, A., Cooper, C., Cruz-Jentoft, A., Mccloskey, E., Dawson-Hughes, B., Kaufman, J., Laslop, A., Petermans, J., Reginster, J., Rizzoli, R., Robinson, S., Rolland, Y., Rueda, R., Vellas, B., Kanis, J. 2018. Pitfalls in the measurement of muscle mass: a need for a reference standard. Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle. 9(2):269-278. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcsm.12268.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/jcsm.12268

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Background: All proposed definitions of sarcopenia include the measurement of muscle mass, but the techniques and threshold values used vary. Indeed, the literature does not establish consensus on the best technique for measuring lean body mass. Thus, the objective measurement of sarcopenia is hampered by limitations intrinsic to assessment tools. The aim of this study was to review the methods to assess muscle mass and to reach consensus on the development of a reference standard. Methods: Literature reviews were performed by members of the European Society for Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis and Osteoarthritis working group on frailty and sarcopenia. Face to face meetings were organized for the whole group to make amendments and discuss further recommendations. Results: A wide range of techniques can be used to assess muscle mass. Cost, availability, and ease of use can determine whether the techniques are better suited to clinical practice or are more useful for research. No one technique subserves all requirements but dual energy X-ray absorptiometry could be considered as a reference standard (but not a gold standard) for measuring muscle lean body mass. Conclusions: Based on the feasibility, accuracy, safety, and low cost, dual energy X-ray absorptiometry can be considered as the reference standard for measuring muscle mass.