Prediction equations to estimate muscle mass using anthropometric data: a systematic review

Area of Science:

• Clinical Nutrition
• Anthropometry
• Body Composition Analysis

Background:

• Reduced muscle mass is associated with adverse outcomes in clinical settings.
• Current laboratory methods for muscle mass assessment are not routinely feasible due to cost and availability.
• Accurate muscle mass assessment is crucial for patient care.

Approach:

• A systematic literature review was conducted searching major scientific databases until June 2022.
• 63 observational studies were included after screening 6437 articles.
• Data extraction and selection were performed by four independent reviewers.

Key Points:

• Numerous anthropometric equations exist for predicting skeletal muscle mass, free-fat mass, and lean soft tissue.
• Most equations are validated for healthy adults, but accuracy varies in specific populations.
• Limited validation exists for individuals with obesity, malnutrition, or older adults, particularly for appendicular lean mass.

Conclusions:

• Feasible, practical, and low-cost anthropometric equations for muscle mass prediction are available.
• Some equations demonstrate excellent accuracy in healthy adults, older individuals, women, and athletes.
• Further research is needed to validate equations for understudied groups like malnourished individuals and people with obesity.