Muscle Mass Reference Values of Greek Adult Population: A Cross-Sectional Study for Sarcopenia Definition in Greece

Sarcopenia is a condition of the musculoskeletal system that has three distinctive dimensions: muscle strength, muscle mass and muscle performance. We need to accurately define it considering population particularities at national level. The aim of this study is measuring muscle mass variables in healthy young Greek population and set their reference values.

Between June 2020 and June 2022, we recruited (convenience sampling) 185 healthy adults (103 males and 82 females) measured their body composition using two different methods. Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) and Dual Energy X - Ray Absorptiometry (DXA). We calculated cut-off values as mean - 2 SDs.

Appendicular Lean Mass Index cut-off values for Greek males are 5.61 kg/m2 and 4.06 kg/m2 for females, Skeletal Muscle Mass Index cut-off values are 9.66 kg/m2 for males and 7.83 kg/m2 for females.

We estimated cut-off values of normal skeletal muscle mass values in a rather selected sample of healthy Greek adult population. Since to our knowledge this is the first study of this type in Greece, these values are a useful tool towards better defining sarcopenia, but there is need to validate them in studies including rural and urban population and in sarcopenia studies in older people.

gov ID: NCT04584944.