title: The developmental origins of sarcopenia: using peripheral quantitative computed tomography to assess muscle size in older people.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A number of studies have shown strong graded positive relationships between size at birth, grip strength, and estimates of muscle mass in older people. However no studies to date have included direct measures of muscle size.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 313 men and 318 women born in Hertfordshire, United Kingdom between 1931 and 1939 who were still resident there and had historical records of growth in early life. Information on lifestyle was collected, and participants underwent peripheral quantitative computed tomography to directly measure forearm and calf muscle size.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Birth weight was positively related to forearm muscle area in the men (r = 0.24, p <.0001) and women (r = 0.17, p =.003). There were similar but weaker associations between birth weight and calf muscle area in the men (r = 0.13, p =.03) and in the women (r = 0.17, p =.004). These relationships were all attenuated by adjustment for adult size.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We present first evidence that directly measured muscle size in older men and women is associated with size at birth. This may reflect tracking of muscle size and is important because it suggests that benefit may be gained from taking a life course approach both to understanding the etiology of sarcopenia and to developing effective interventions.
authors.affiliation: MRC Epidemiology Resource Centre, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, United Kingdom. aas@mrc.soton.ac.uk
authors.forename: Avan Aihie
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Sayer
authors.forename: Elaine M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Dennison
authors.forename: Holly E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Syddall
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jameson
authors.forename: Helen J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Cyrus
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cooper
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009133:Muscular Atrophy / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods
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