Predictors of Lean Body Mass and Total Adipose Mass in Community-Dwelling Elderly Men and Women

Abstract

As part of an ongoing longitudinal study, we analyzed cross-sectional data to identify the predictors of lean body mass (LBM) and total adipose mass (TAM) in communitydwelling elderly men and women. Body composition analysis was done using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. A total 262 subjects (118 women and 144 men), 60 to 80 years of age, from the urban and suburban communities of southeastern Wisconsin were studied. In women, the age (r = -.18), body mass index (BMI) (r = .43), and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) (r = .30), and in men, BMI (r = .45) and insulin-like growth factor-I (lGF-l) (r = .32) were identified as predictors (P < .05) of LBM. In women, the BMI (r = .87), WHR (r = .21), and functional work capacity (V02 max) (r = -.47), and in men, the BMI (r = .83), WHR (r = .52), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) (r = -.27), total testosterone (TT) (r = -.35), free testosterone (FT) (r = -.23), physical activity (LTE) (r = -.32), and V02 peak (r = -.59) were identified as predictors of TAM. After partialling out age in addition to the predictors identified earlier,· the V02 peak was identified as a predictor (P < .05) of LBM in both women and men, and TT, FT, and LTE as predictors (P < .05) of LBM in men. We conclude that the BMI, WHR, and V02 peak influ-ences LBM and TAM in both women and men. Additionally, in men LBM and TAM is influenced by hormone profile.