Measurement of muscle mass in sarcopenia: from imaging to biochemical markers.
Sarcopenia encompasses the loss of muscle mass and strength/function during aging. Several methods are available for the estimation of muscle or lean body mass. Popular assessment tools include body imaging techniques (e.g., magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, dual X-ray absorptiometry, ultrasonography), bioelectric impedance analysis, anthropometric parameters (e.g., calf circumference, mid-arm muscle circumference), and biochemical markers (total or partial body potassium, serum and urinary creatinine, deuterated creatine dilution method). The heterogeneity of the populations to be evaluated as well as the setting in which sarcopenia is investigated impacts the definition of "gold standard" assessment techniques. The aim of this article is to critically review available methods for muscle mass estimation, highlighting strengths and weaknesses of each of them as well as their proposed field of application.
Department of Geriatrics, Neurosciences and Orthopedics, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart School of Medicine, Rome, Italy.
Matteo
M
Tosato
Department of Geriatrics, Neurosciences and Orthopedics, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart School of Medicine, Rome, Italy.
Emanuele
E
Marzetti
Gérontopôle, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Toulouse, Toulouse, France.|Université de Toulouse III Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France.
Matteo
M
Cesari
Department of Geriatrics, Neurosciences and Orthopedics, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart School of Medicine, Rome, Italy.
Giulia
G
Savera
Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland.
Ram R
RR
Miller
Department of Geriatrics, Neurosciences and Orthopedics, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart School of Medicine, Rome, Italy.
Roberto
R
Bernabei
Department of Geriatrics, Neurosciences and Orthopedics, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart School of Medicine, Rome, Italy.
Francesco
F
Landi
Department of Geriatrics, Neurosciences and Orthopedics, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart School of Medicine, Rome, Italy. riccardo.calvani@gmail.com.
Riccardo
R
Calvani
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D001823:Body Composition; D003401:Creatine / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D053580:Muscle Strength; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009213:Myography / Q000379:methods; D011188:Potassium / Q000032:analysis; D055948:Sarcopenia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D015415:Biomarkers; D003401:Creatine; D011188:Potassium
Appendicular lean mass; Biomarkers; Body imaging; DXA; Diagnosis; Muscle strength; Physical function