Abstract
Body composition (BC) is an emerging important factor for the characterization of metabolic status. The assessment of BC has been studied in various populations and diseases such as obesity, diabetes, endocrine diseases as well as physiological and paraphysiological conditions such as growth and aging processes, and physical training. A gold standard technique for the assessment of human BC at molecular level is represented by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), which is able to precisely assess the body mass (and areal bone mineral density-aBMD) on a regional and whole-body basis. For the first time, within the framework of the NU-AGE project, BC has been assessed by means of a whole-body DXA scan in 1121 sex-balanced free-living, apparently healthy older adults aged 65–79 years enrolled in 5 European countries (Italy, France, United Kingdom, Netherlands, and Poland). The aim of this analysis is to provide a complete profile of BC in healthy elderly participants from five European countries and to investigate country- and sex-related differences by state-of-the-art DXA technology. To compare BC data collected in different centers, specific indexes and ratios have been used. Non-parametric statistical tests showed sex-specific significant differences in certain BC parameters. In particular, women have higher fat mass (FM) (Fat/Lean mass ratio: by 67%, p < 2.2e-16) and lower lean mass (Lean Mass index: by -18%, p < 2.2e-16) than men. On the other hand, men have higher android FM than women (Android/gynoid FM ratio: by 56%, p < 2.2e-16). Interesting differences also emerged among countries. Polish elderly have higher FM (Fat/Lean mass ratio: by 52%, p < 2.2e-16) and lower lean mass (Skeletal Mass index: by -23%, p < 2.2e-16) than elderly from the other four countries. At variance, French elderly show lower FM (Fat/Lean mass ratio: by -34%, p < 2.2e-16) and higher lean mass (Skeletal Mass index: by 18%, p < 2.2e-16). Moreover, five BC profiles in women and six in men have been identified by a cluster analysis based on BC parameters. Finally, these data can serve as reference for normative average and variability of BC in the elderly populations across Europe.
Highlights
Changes in body composition (BC) are associated with aging, wherein loss of muscle mass and increase in total fat mass (FM) occurs
body mass index (BMI) is widely used as an index of relative weight but its relation with BC is controversial, BMI cannot distinguish fat and lean masses
The aim of this study is to provide a snapshot of BC in the elderly across Europe, taking advantage of the data on fat, lean and bone mass evaluated by DXA scan on 1121 elderly participants to the European project NU-AGE
Summary
Changes in body composition (BC) are associated with aging, wherein loss of muscle mass and increase in total fat mass (FM) occurs. Trunk fat has been linked to metabolic abnormalities at various BMI levels (Bjorntorp, 1991; Bosy-Westphal et al, 2015), and several studies have reported a positive association between visceral and neck adipose tissue and incidence of cardiovascular diseases (Arsenault et al, 2012; Britton et al, 2013; Torriani et al, 2014). Previous studies have shown that preserved lean muscle mass with scarce muscle fat infiltration is associated with improved physical function and gait speed in general older populations (Beavers et al, 2013; Reinders et al, 2015). It has been shown that increased muscle fat infiltration is associated with higher mortality risk (Miljkovic et al, 2015; Reinders et al, 2016)
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