Relationship between longitudinal changes in calf circumference and skeletal muscle mass

IF 2.9 Q3 NUTRITION & DIETETICS

Clinical nutrition ESPEN Pub Date : 2025-05-28 DOI:10.1016/j.clnesp.2025.05.044

Ryoko Kawakami , Kumpei Tanisawa , Nobuhiro Nakamura , Tomoko Ito , Chiyoko Usui , Yumiko Inoue , Yiwen Chen , Daiki Watanabe , Motohiko Miyachi , Suguru Torii , Taishi Midorikawa , Kaori Ishii , Katsuhiko Suzuki , Shizuo Sakamoto , Mitsuru Higuchi , Koichiro Oka

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background & aims

Calf circumference serves as a surrogate marker of skeletal muscle mass. However, its ability to reflect changes in skeletal muscle mass remains unclear. This longitudinal study aimed to assess the relationship between changes in calf circumference and appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM) and to explore the effects of age and obesity.

Methods

The two-wave cohort data of 227 adults aged 40–87 years were analyzed. The maximum calf circumference was measured in a standing position, whereas body composition, including ASM, was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Pearson's correlation coefficient was calculated to assess this relationship.

Results

The mean follow-up period was 8.0 ± 0.4 years. The mean changes in calf circumference and ASM (follow-up – baseline value) were −0.1 ± 1.2 cm and −0.7 ± 1.0 kg, respectively. Changes in calf circumference and ASM showed a positive correlation in men and women (r = 0.71 and 0.71, respectively). A 1.0 cm reduction in calf circumference corresponded to a 1.4 and 0.9 kg reduction in ASM for men and women, respectively. As in the primary analysis, subgroup analysis based on age and obesity exhibited similar positive correlations between changes in calf circumference and ASM (r = 0.70, 0.67, 0.69, and 0.72 for middle-aged, older, non-obese, and obese adults, respectively).

Conclusions

Longitudinal changes in calf circumference were positively correlated with those in ASM, regardless of age and obesity status. As such, changes in calf circumference could serve as a reliable indicator of variations in skeletal muscle mass.

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小腿围的纵向变化与骨骼肌质量的关系。

背景与目的：小腿围可作为骨骼肌质量的替代指标。然而，其反映骨骼肌质量变化的能力尚不清楚。这项纵向研究旨在评估小腿围与阑尾骨骼肌质量（ASM）变化之间的关系，并探讨年龄和肥胖的影响。方法：对227例40 ~ 87岁成人的两波队列资料进行分析。在站立位置测量最大小腿围，而身体成分，包括ASM，使用双能x射线吸收仪测量。计算Pearson相关系数来评估这种关系。结果：平均随访时间8.0±0.4年。小腿围和ASM（随访-基线值）的平均变化分别为-0.1±1.2 cm和-0.7±1.0 kg。在男性和女性中，小腿围和ASM的变化呈正相关（r分别为0.71和0.71）。对于男性和女性来说，小腿围减少1.0厘米对应的ASM分别减少1.4和0.9公斤。与初步分析一样，基于年龄和肥胖的亚组分析显示，小腿围变化与ASM之间存在类似的正相关（中年、老年、非肥胖和肥胖成年人的r分别为0.70、0.67、0.69和0.72）。结论：无论年龄和肥胖状况如何，小腿围的纵向变化与ASM呈正相关。因此，小腿围的变化可以作为骨骼肌质量变化的可靠指标。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Clinical nutrition ESPEN NUTRITION & DIETETICS-

CiteScore

4.90

自引率

3.30%

发文量

512

期刊介绍： Clinical Nutrition ESPEN is an electronic-only journal and is an official publication of the European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN). Nutrition and nutritional care have gained wide clinical and scientific interest during the past decades. The increasing knowledge of metabolic disturbances and nutritional assessment in chronic and acute diseases has stimulated rapid advances in design, development and clinical application of nutritional support. The aims of ESPEN are to encourage the rapid diffusion of knowledge and its application in the field of clinical nutrition and metabolism. Published bimonthly, Clinical Nutrition ESPEN focuses on publishing articles on the relationship between nutrition and disease in the setting of basic science and clinical practice. Clinical Nutrition ESPEN is available to all members of ESPEN and to all subscribers of Clinical Nutrition.