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Reference muscle mass values in children to evaluate low muscle mass while assessing sarcopenia and malnutrition
Tuğba Aydın1, Elif Bahat2, Beyza Arpacı Saylar3
1Istanbul Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Training and Research Hospital, Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Department, Istanbul, Turkey; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Hamidiye Faculty of Medicine, Health Sciences University, Istanbul, Turkey.
Insights
This study establishes crucial age- and sex-specific reference values for muscle mass (MM) in children, aiding in the early detection of low muscle mass (LMM) and related conditions like pediatric sarcopenia and malnutrition.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric endocrinology and nutrition
- Body composition analysis in children
- Growth monitoring and assessment
Background:
- Sarcopenia, typically age-related, is increasingly identified in children, impacting growth and health.
- Low muscle mass (LMM) is a key indicator of malnutrition in pediatric populations.
- Existing normative data for pediatric muscle mass (MM) is limited, necessitating new population-specific references.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish age- and sex-specific reference values for muscle mass (MM) indicators in healthy children.
- To create a new population cohort for pediatric body composition analysis.
- To provide normative data for assessing LMM in children.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional analysis of 844 healthy children aged 5-14 years.
- Bioelectrical impedance analysis (Tanita DC360) used for body composition evaluation.
- Calculation of percentile values for fat-free mass (FFM) and MM, indexed by weight, height squared, and BMI.
Main Results:
- Established age- and sex-specific percentiles for FFM and MM in the studied cohort.
- Performed comparative analyses with previously published population data.
- Reported novel reference values for FFM and MM adjusted by body mass index.
Conclusions:
- The study provides essential normative reference values for pediatric MM indicators.
- These values serve as a critical tool for monitoring child growth and diagnosing conditions like sarcopenia and malnutrition.
- Further research in diverse pediatric populations is recommended to refine LMM assessment accuracy.
Objectives:
Sarcopenia, traditionally considered an aging-related condition, is increasingly being recognized in pediatrics, where low muscle mass (LMM) affects growth and health outcomes. LMM is also a hallmark of malnutrition. Normative muscle mass (MM) values are critical for assessing LMM in children, yet current references are limited to a few studies conducted in specific populations, underscoring the need for further research. The aim of this study was to establish age- and sex-specific reference values for MM indicators in healthy children, representing a new population cohort.
Methods:
A cross-sectional analysis of healthy children aged 5-14 y was conducted. The bioelectrical impedance analysis technique, using equipment that enables the evaluation of body composition in children (Tanita DC360, Tokyo, Japan), was used to evaluate body composition. The percentile values for fat-free mass (FFM) and MM were calculated by age and indexed according to weight, height squared, and body mass index.
Results:
A total of 844 healthy children (388 girls and 456 boys) were included, with age- and sex-specific percentiles for FFM and MM established. Comparative analyses with previously studied populations were also performed. Reference values for FFM and MM adjusted by body mass index were reported for the first time.
Conclusions:
This study provides normative reference values for MM indicators in children, offering a valuable tool for monitoring growth and diagnosing conditions such as sarcopenia and malnutrition. Further research in diverse populations is recommended to enhance the accuracy of LMM assessment.
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