title: Inverse relationship between "a body shape index" (ABSI) and fat-free mass in women and men: Insights into mechanisms of sarcopenic obesity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Sarcopenic obesity may be defined by a high fat to fat-free mass (FM/FFM) ratio. Skeletal muscle may be negatively influenced by the pro-inflammatory milieu associated with visceral fat, while the loading effect induced by a heavier body mass index (BMI) may enhance muscle anabolism. Recently, a new anthropometric measure based on waist circumference (A Body Shape Index, ABSI) was developed. In this study we have assessed the predictive power of ABSI on the FFM index (FFMI), a surrogate marker of lean mass.
  
  
  METHODS
  Standard anthropometric parameters and ABSI as well as body composition data (fat and fat-free mass determined by bioelectrical impedance analysis) were assessed in 111 female and 89 male overweight/obese subjects, with no clinically significant co-morbidities. Groups with higher- or lower-ABSI were identified according to median values of this index.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In women and men, ABSI did not correlate with BMI, while multiple linear regression indicated that BMI (β-coefficients: 0.62 and 0.77, respectively) and ABSI (β-coefficients: -0.26 and -0.22, respectively) independently predicted FFMI (multiple R: 0.72 and 0.83, respectively, P < 0.001). Men and women with lower-ABSI exhibited significantly greater FFMI than the higher-ABSI groups for comparable values of BMI. In men, ABSI was correlated positively with C-reactive protein (CRP) (R = 0.30; P < 0.05) and negatively with the reciprocal of insulin (R = 0.28; P < 0.05), an index of insulin sensitivity. FM/FFM ratio significantly (P < 0.01) correlated with CRP (R = 0.31) in women only.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ABSI, a recently introduced marker of abdominal adiposity, may contribute to define the risk of sarcopenia in overweight/obese individuals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences, Clinica Medica AOUTS, University of Trieste, Italy. Electronic address: biolo@units.it.
authors.forename: Gianni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Biolo
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences, Clinica Medica AOUTS, University of Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: Filippo Giorgio
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Di Girolamo
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences, Clinica Medica AOUTS, University of Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Breglia
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences, Clinica Medica AOUTS, University of Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chiuc
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences, Clinica Medica AOUTS, University of Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Baglio
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences, Clinica Medica AOUTS, University of Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: Pierandrea
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vinci
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences, Geriatric Unit AOUTS, University of Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Toigo
authors.affiliation: Dietetic and Clinical Nutrition Unit, Health Department of the Autonomous Province of Bolzano, Italy.
authors.forename: Lucio
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lucchin
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, Izola, University of Primorska, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Mihaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jurdana
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, Izola, University of Primorska, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Zala J
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Pražnikar
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, Izola, University of Primorska, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Petelin
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences, Clinica Medica AOUTS, University of Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mazzucco
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences, Clinica Medica AOUTS, University of Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Situlin
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods*; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D017097:Electric Impedance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D056128:Obesity, Abdominal / Q000175:diagnosis*; D050177:Overweight / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D055948:Sarcopenia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D012737:Sex Factors; D055105:Waist Circumference
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein
keywords: A body shape index; Fat-free mass; Inflammation; Sarcopenic obesity