Letter to the Editor: remarks on ‘Interrelations of vitamin D status with adiposity and muscle mass in adult women’

Data describing relationships between muscle strength, muscle mass, and physical disability among individuals with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are limited. The present study examines the relationship of muscle strength and muscle mass with physical disability among adult women with SLE. A total of 146 women from a longitudinal SLE cohort participated in the study. All measures were collected during an in-person research visit. Lower extremity muscle strength was assessed by peak knee torque of extension and flexion and by chair-stand time. Total lean body mass, appendicular lean mass, and fat mass (kg/m(2) ) were measured by whole-body dual x-ray absorptiometry. Self-reported physical disability was assessed using the Short Form 36 health survey (SF-36) physical functioning subscale, and the Valued Life Activities (VLA) disability scale. Spearman's rank correlation coefficients tested the correlations between muscle strength, muscle mass, and disability scores. Regression analyses modeled the effect of lower extremity muscle strength and mass on SF-36 and VLA disability scores controlling for age, SLE duration, SLE disease activity measured with the Systemic Lupus Activity Questionnaire, physical activity level, prednisone use, body composition, and depression. On all measures, reduced lower extremity muscle strength was associated with poorer SF-36 and VLA disability scores. Trends persisted after adjustment for covariates. Muscle mass was moderately correlated with muscle strength, but did not contribute significantly to adjusted regression models. Lower extremity muscle strength, but not muscle mass, was strongly associated with physical disability scores. While further studies are needed, these findings suggest that improving muscle strength may reduce physical disability among women with SLE.

Ageing involves significant changes in skeletal muscle mass and its functioning. This study aimed to identify the major nutrient patterns (NPs) present in a sample of adult Polish women and evaluate their associations with the skeletal muscle mass index (SMI). A cross-sectional study initially recruited 527 women, and a final analysis was carried out on 275 women aged 32–60 years. Nutrient intake was assessed using fourteen repetitions of 24-hour dietary recall. NPs were derived using principal component analysis. Associations between adherence to NPs and the SMI were evaluated using linear regression models. Three NPs were identified: ‘Animal Protein-Vitamins’, ‘Fibre-Plant Protein-Minerals’ and ‘Fats’. In the adjusted model, the upper tertile compared to the bottom tertile of the ‘Animal Protein-Vitamins’ NP was related to a higher SMI (β = 0.123 95% CI: 0.019; 0.227; P for 1-SD increase of NP score = 0.009). No associations between the SMI and the ‘Fibre-Plant Protein-Minerals’ and ‘Fats’ NPs were observed. Our results indicate that high adherence to animal product-rich patterns might be related to higher muscle mass in adult women. Research on the influence of dietary and nutrient patterns on the quality of muscle tissue may contribute to the setting of guidelines for nutritional protection of skeletal muscle with ageing and, consequently, dietary recommendations that would improve the quality of women’s lives at the later stage of life.

BackgroundVitamin D deficiency (VDD) is common among women, particularly those with central adiposity. This study examines the predictors of vitamin D levels, focusing on age, adiposity and muscle composition.MethodsA cross-sectional...

The purpose of this study was to examine the absolute and relative muscle mass in girls and adult women with different constitutions. Such studies in women of Kyrgyz nationality have not been conducted before, but this data is important for both theoretical and practical medicine. Physical development of 580 healthy girls and adult women, ethnic Kyrgyz, living in Osh and suburbs, was evaluated using complex anthropometry and somatotyping. The absolute muscle mass was evaluated using bio-impedancemetry using the ABS-01 Medass device. The statistical processing of the obtained parameters was performed using the statistical software, Microsoft Excel and the STATISTICA package (v. 6.0). The results of this study showed age-related and somatotype characteristics of the absolute and relative muscle mass. They demonstrated a tendency towards an increase in the absolute and relative muscle mass during the transition from adolescence to the 1st period of adulthood with their further decrease in the 2nd period of adulthood, which has both theoretical and practical significance.

Although research on the relationship between lean body mass and blood pressure (BP) has been inconsistent, most studies reported that measures of lean body mass are associated with a higher risk of hypertension. We explored relationships between body composition (fat and skeletal muscle mass) and BP in 1162 young adult African women. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry-derived measures of whole-body, central and arm fat mass were associated with higher systolic and diastolic BP, while leg fat percentage was associated with lower systolic and diastolic BP. However, only the associations with diastolic BP remained after adjusting for appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM). ASM was associated with higher systolic and diastolic BP, before and after adjusting for whole-body fat percentage and visceral adipose tissue. While there was no overlap in targeted proteomics of BP and body composition, REN was lower in the elevated BP than the normal BP group and was inversely associated with diastolic BP (false rate discovery adjusted P< 0·050). Several proteins were positively associated with both visceral adipose tissue and ASM (LEP, FABP4, IL6 and GGH) and negatively associated with both visceral adipose tissue and ASM (ACAN, CELA3A, PLA2G1B and NCAM1). NOTCH3, ART3, COL1A1, DKK3, ENG, NPTXR, AMY2B and CNTN1 were associated with lower visceral adipose tissue only, and IGFBP1 was associated with lower ASM only. While the associations between body fat and BP were not independent of skeletal muscle mass, the associations between muscle mass and BP were independent of overall and central adiposity in young adult African women. Future interventions targeting muscle mass should also monitor BP in this population.

Background: Previous studies suggested that the early identification of risk factors for the development of osteoporosis should reduce medical complications, which are associated with increased morbidity and mortality in older women. Purpose: The present study had the objective to identify the relationship between Bone Mineral Density (BMD), anthropometric characteristics, years of post-menopause, strength, muscle mass and the performance on functional tests in up 10 years postmenopausal women. Methods: Participated of the study fifty-eight post menopause women who were assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) of femoral neck and whole-body to determine BMD and relative skeletal muscle index (RSMI). Also, the muscle strength was assessed by handgrip strength test (HGS) and two functional tests were performed: Timed Up-and-Go (TUG) and Five-Times-Sit-To-Stand (FTSTS). Results: The results shown a positive correlation between BMD and weight (r = 0.54, p < 0.05), BMD and BMI (r = 0.56, p < 0.05), BMD and RSMI (r = 0.38, p < 0.05). Conclusions: The findings of the present study demonstrated a correlation between muscle mass and BMD and also shown that anthropometric characteristics, such as higher weight and BMI were correlated with higher BMD and muscle mass in up 10 years postmenopausal women.

Objetivo: Descrever características antropométricas de mulheres praticantes do Método Pilates Clássico de Porto Alegre (Brasil) e associar faixa etária e tempo de prática com as variáveis massa adiposa, massa muscular e índice de massa corporal.&#x0D; Método: Foram mensuradas 48 medidas antropométricas (massa corporal, altura, altura tronco-cefálica e envergadura, nove dobras cutâneas, 17 perímetros, nove diâmetros e nove comprimentos) de 58 mulheres saudáveis, praticantes do Método Pilates Clássico há pelo menos seis meses, média de prática 43 ± 38 meses, idade média 37 ± 8 anos, média de frequência semanal 2 ± 0.76 vezes por semana. Os instrumentos de coleta de dados foram: adipômetro Lange®, trena antropométrica e paquímetro de 24 e 60 cm Cescorf®. Para as medidas de peso e altura foram utilizadas balança Cadence® e estadiômetro Sanny®. As avaliações foram realizadas por um antropometrista nível II acreditado pela International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthopometry (ISAK). Para a análise dos dados foi utilizada a estatística descritiva e para verificar associação entre as variáveis foi realizado o teste do qui-quadrado.&#x0D; Resultados: O valor médio da massa adiposa (25.03 ± 4.81 kg) foi maior que o da massa muscular (23.14 ± 3.36 kg). Porém, a classificação do índice de massa corporal da maioria da amostra (79%) está dentro do adequado. Não houve associação significativa entre nenhuma das variáveis (p&gt;0.05).&#x0D; Conclusão: A prática do Método Pilates Clássico permite a manutenção do índice de massa corporal adequado. Entretanto, a média da massa adiposa superior a massa muscular é preocupante, assim como, a grande parcela de mulheres que praticam somente o Método Pilates e não atingem o mínimo de minutos de atividade física semanal para sair do sedentarismo.

Background: A reduction in muscle mass (MM), known as sarcopenia, and an increase in fat mass is one of the most striking and consistent changes associated with obesity in aging. Sarcopenia should be evaluated in older patients who present declines in physical activity and strength. A careful weight management may be useful to reduce fat mass and to preserve muscle mass in sarcopenic obese old patients. Objective: The main purpose of our study was to diagnose sarcopenia in obese older peoples and to assess the effect of a diet moderately rich in proteins on lean mass loss in sarcopenic obese older patients. Material and Methods: 1814 patients (1301 females, 20-75 years old) were enrolled in the study to determine new cut-off of muscle mass index (MMI) to evaluate sarcopenia. 1272 subjects (1030 females - age > 65 years; BMI > 30 Kg/m2) were recruited to verify the effect of a diet moderately rich in proteins (1,2 g/Kg/die) on lean mass loss in sarcopenic obese older patients. Nutritional status was assessed and MM was estimated. MMI was calculated as: MM/height2 in all populations. Results: MMI was significantly different in males and females, according to obese and normalweight conditions, as well as age. New MMI cut-off were calculated (as MMI – 2SD) in all groups. In particular, in obese adult men MMI cut-off was 8,54 Kg/m2, while it was 7,89 Kg/m2 in normalweight adult men. MMI cut-off was 7,28 Kg/m2 in obese adult women and 6,79 Kg/m2 in normalweight adult women. According to obese-derived MMI cut-off scores, 104 obese older women (out of 1030) and 9 obese older men (out of 242) were classified as sarcopenic. After dieting (1,2 g/Kg/die of proteins), significant reductions in BMI were detected in all sarcopenic populations (Females: 30,26 ± 0,02 vs 31,05 ± 0,03 Kg/m2; Males: 29,2 ± 0,4 vs 30,20 ± 0,03 Kg/m2, p < 0,01 vs baseline). MMI showed a significant increase in sarcopenic obese older women (7,13 ± 0,01 vs 6,96 ± 0,01 Kg/m2, p<0,01 vs baseline), but not in sarcopenic obese older men (8,8 ± 0,3 vs 8,27 ± 0,04 Kg/m2). Moreover, AMA did not present significant variations in all sarcopenic groups (Females: 43,11 ± 0,04 vs 43,59 ± 0,05 cm2; Males: 53,2 ± 4,0 vs 51,9 ± 3,3 cm2). Conclusions: MMI was significantly different in males and females, comparing obese and normalweight groups. In particular, MMI in our obese patients was higher than in normalweight peoples. New cut-off, derived from obese adult population, may be useful to estimate sarcopenia in obese older peoples. Diet moderately rich in proteins appeared to preserve muscle mass in sarcopenic subjects. Therefore, adequate protein intake could contribute to prevent lean mass loss associated with weight loss in obese older patients.

This purpose of this study was to examine the influence of age and gender on whole and body regional muscle mass and distribution using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry(DEXA). The subjects consisted of healthy adult men and women who had participated in body composition studies at Korea University. The subjects varied in age(20~73 yr) and body mass index(15.6~42.5). None of the subjects was taking medications known to affect the study variables. They were divided three groups according to age. The major findings in this study were summarized as follows : 1. Whole and body regional muscle mass in men was greater than in women. 2. The arm muscle mass and distribution in men was greater than in women. 3. The muscle mass in the arms and legs were decreased with age, but the trunk muscle mass was increased with age in both group. 4. The loss of muscle mass was significantly different with age among groups, arm muscle mass were decreased in men and leg muscle mass were decreased in women.

Interleukin-15 mediates reciprocal regulation of adipose and muscle mass: a potential role in body weight control

Orchiectomized Fischer 344 male rat models body composition in hypogonadal state

Optimum body composition in terms of higher muscle and bone mass is crucial for balancing metabolic activities for sustainability of healthy human life. Individuals with lesser muscle mass respond poorly to stressed states such as traumatic injury, sepsis and advanced cancers. Most common diseases like obesity, heart disease, cancer and diabetes can be prevented by muscle mass modification. The nutrients like protein, lysine, calcium and vitamin D play a critical role in the maintenance of muscle mass and bone health. Poor dietary protein quality owing to high amounts of cereals and little animal foods have a marked negative impact on health in resource-limited settings. Lysine intake in developing countries is low mainly due to lesser food intake, consumption of cereals as staple diet and processing loss of lysine. Furthermore, lysine intakes have been shown to be marginal in low socio-economic groups which are of even greater concern. Cereal-based diets and cereal-based food subsidy programs offer low quality proteins and pose a risk of quality protein deficiency. Diets lacking in vitamin D contribute to vitamin D deficiency which is prevalent in epidemic proportions in large part of the world. Cereal-based vegetarian diets are responsible for lesser bioaccessibility of calcium as well. For obtaining optimal health, optimal muscle mass should be maintained at a younger age, which can be achieved by improving nutritional quality of diets. Dietary and medicinal supplementation of lysine, calcium and vitamin D may improve the body composition of young adult women in the form of proportionally more muscle mass, bone mass and lesser fat mass, which in turn, may prove helpful in improving general well-being, physical fitness as well as preventing metabolic diseases in developing countries.

The fruit of Schisandra chinensis (SC) is a well-known traditional herb used for pharmacological purposes in Asian countries (e.g., Korea, China, and Japan). In animal studies, SC extract supplementation had beneficial effects on muscle strength and lactate level. However, the effect of SC extract supplementation on skeletal muscle strength and lactate at rest in humans remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of SC extract supplementation on quadriceps muscle strength (QMS) and lactate at rest in adult women. Forty five healthy post-menopausal middle-aged women (61.9 ± 8.4 years) were randomly divided into the SC (n = 24) or the placebo group (n = 21). The SC group consumed 1000 mg of SC extract per day, whereas the placebo group consumed 1000 mg of starch per day for 12 weeks. The difference in muscle mass, physical function, and biomarkers and the relative changes between baseline and 12 weeks were evaluated. We used two-factor repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) to determine interaction (group × time) effects for variables. Statistical significance was accepted at p < 0.05. In ANOVA results, QMS (p = 0.001) and lactate level (p = 0.038) showed significant interactions. With paired t-tests, QMS was significantly increased (p < 0.001) and lactate level at rest was significantly decreased (p < 0.05) after 12 weeks in the SC group. However, no interactions were found between the other variables. Supplementation of SC extract may help to improve QMS as well as decrease lactate level at rest in adult women. We believe that SC extract is a health supplement that can support healthy life in this population.

BackgroundUnderstanding the association between sarcopenia-related variables and several risk factors may help to implement interventions aimed at preventing its occurrence by reducing or controlling the identified risk factors. Although changes in body composition occur in both sexes, in women, muscle loss is accentuated due to decreased estrogen levels following menopause. This study aims to determine the factors associated with sarcopenia-related parameters in middle-aged women identified with class II/III obesity (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 35 kg/m2).MethodsThe study included 104 women with severe obesity (40.23 ± 8.49 years) with an average body fat percentage of 52.45 ± 4.14%. Sarcopenia was assessed using total appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASMM), appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMMI), and appendicular skeletal muscle mass adjusted by BMI (ASMM/BMI) as evaluated using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Hand grip strength (HGS) and HGS adjusted by BMI (HGS/BMI) were evaluated using dynamometry. Functional performance was assessed using the walking speed test (WS). The explanatory variables were age, lifestyle, comorbidities, food consumption, and metabolic parameters. A multivariate linear regression was performed.ResultsFactors associated with sarcopenia-related variables in 104 severely obese women with a mean BMI of 43.85 kg/m2 were as follows: ASMMI negatively correlated with serum levels of tetraiodothyronine (T4) and tobacco use; ASMM/BMI negatively correlated with age, serum T4 levels, and diabetes; ASMM negatively correlated with T4 serum levels and diabetes; HGS negatively correlated with age and hypercholesterolemia, and positively correlated with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c); HGS/BMI negatively correlated with age and hypercholesterolemia and positively correlated with LDL-c; and WS negatively correlated with hypothyroidism and diabetes.ConclusionIn severely obese women, muscle mass and function were inversely associated with age, smoking status, endocrine parameters, hypercholesterolemia, and comorbidities such as diabetes. Thus, the results of this investigation are relevant in supporting the development of clinical interventions to aid in the prevention of sarcopenia in adult women with severe obesity.

This study is a comparison and analysis of NK cell activity and CRP concentration by measuring variation in physical composition and blood after adult women practice the Brain Yoga for 8 weeks. ‘Brain Yoga’ is developed to help the generation and activation of cranial nerve cells and improve cognitive ability. The test subjects were 18 adult women consisting of 2 groups; EG(9 people who exercise brain yoga for 8 weeks) and CG(9 people who not be exercised it). Brain yoga was performed only on group EG for 50 minutes a day, 3 days a week, and 8 weeks. Before the program starts and 8 weeks later, we measured body composition and NK cell activity and CRP concentration. In each group, the verification of differences before and after exercise was analyzed as paired t-test. The interaction effects between groups and periods of BMI, body fat and muscle mass have shown significant differences in the group EG. and the interaction of NK cell activity and CRP concentration have been shown to have decreased significantly everybody in the group EG. As a result, it was suggested that the reduction of the CRP concentration affect the decrease of NK cell activity. This study is a comparison and analysis of NK cell activity and CRP concentration by measuring variation in physical composition and blood after adult women practice the Brain Yoga for 8 weeks. ‘Brain Yoga’ is developed to help the generation and activation of cranial nerve cells and improve cognitive ability. The test subjects were 18 adult women consisting of 2 groups; EG(9 people who exercise brain yoga for 8 weeks) and CG:(9 people who not be exercised it). people who not be exercised it).