[METHODS OF EVALUATION OF MUSCLE MASS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIALS].

INTRODUCTION

in recent years, research about muscle mass has gained popularity for their relationship to health. Thus precise measurement of muscle mass may have clinical application once may interfere with the diagnosis and prescription drug or drug treatment.

OBJECTIVE

to conduct a systematic review of the methods most used for evaluation of muscle mass in randomized controlled trials, with its advantages and disadvantages.

METHODS

we conducted a search of the data bases Pub- Med, Web of Science and Scopus, with words "muscle mass", "measurement", "assessment" and "evaluation", combined in this way: "muscle mass" AND (assessment OR measurement OR evaluation).

RESULTS

23 studies were recovered and analyzed, all in English. 69.56% only used a method for quantification of muscle mass; 69.57% used dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA); in 45.46% the type of measure used was the body lean mass; and 51.61% chose the whole body as a site of measurement.

CONCLUSIONS

in the randomized controlled trials analyzed the majority used just one method of assessment, with the DXA being the method most used, the body lean mass the measurement type most used and total body the most common site of measure.