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Author Spotlight: Decellularization-Based Quantification of Skeletal Muscle Fatty Infiltration
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Increase in muscle mass of the quadriceps is related to decrease in intramuscular adipose tissue in convalescent
Naoki Akazawa1, Masaki Kishi2, Toshikazu Hino2
1Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health and Welfare, Tokushima Bunri University, Tokushima, Tokushima, Japan.
Clinical Nutrition ESPEN
|October 2, 2022
Summary
In stroke patients, increased quadriceps muscle mass is linked to reduced intramuscular fat. This inverse relationship holds true for both affected and unaffected legs during recovery, highlighting the importance of muscle health.
Area of Science:
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Medical Imaging
- Human Physiology
Background:
- Previous research suggests an inverse relationship between muscle mass and intramuscular adipose tissue in older adults.
- The longitudinal dynamics of muscle mass and intramuscular adipose tissue in stroke survivors remain under-investigated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the longitudinal relationship between muscle mass and intramuscular adipose tissue in the quadriceps of convalescent stroke patients.
- To examine these relationships separately for the paretic and non-paretic sides.
Main Methods:
- A longitudinal study involving 24 convalescent stroke patients.
- B-mode ultrasound imaging to assess quadriceps muscle thickness (muscle mass) and echo intensity (intramuscular adipose tissue).
- Multiple regression analysis adjusted for age, sex, time since stroke, subcutaneous fat changes, and lower extremity function.
Main Results:
- A significant negative association was found between changes in quadriceps echo intensity and muscle thickness on the paretic side (β = -0.55, p = 0.018).
- A similar significant negative association was observed on the non-paretic side (β = -0.55, p = 0.013).
Conclusions:
- Muscle mass and intramuscular adipose tissue of the quadriceps are strongly negatively correlated in stroke survivors.
- Increased quadriceps muscle mass corresponds to decreased intramuscular adipose tissue in both paretic and non-paretic legs during stroke recovery.
- A decrease in muscle mass is associated with an increase in intramuscular adipose tissue in this patient population.
