Ultrasonography as a method of nutritional assessment

The composition of the upper arms of five healthy individuals was measured by anthropometry (AN), ultrasonography (US), and computerized tomography (CT). Measurements of midarm fat area (MAFA) and midarm muscle area (MAMA) by CT correlated well with AN and US, but both AN and US overestimated MAMA by 22.8 +/- 17% and 10 +/- 12%, respectively, (mean +/- SD). The overestimate was largest with AN because with this method bone area cannot be excluded. To evaluate the usefulness of US measurements, 10 patients with advanced liver disease were studied. Measurement of MAFA by US, using triceps skinfold thickness as the standard, was found to be an accurate index of fat stores. MAMA measured by US correlated well with lean muscle mass, using creatinine height index as the standard. Ultrasonography is a reliable method of measuring body fat and lean muscle status.