Fernandes Lara Vilar, de Oliveira Gabriela Benatti, Ripka Wagner Luis, Chen Xiayu Summer, Andrade Flavia Cristina Drumond, Vasques Ana Carolina Junqueira, Corona Ligiana Pires
School of Applied Sciences, University of Campinas, Limeira, Brazil.
School of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil.
Eur J Clin Nutr. 2025 Mar;79(2):136-141. doi: 10.1038/s41430-024-01521-w. Epub 2024 Oct 16.
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Strength and muscle mass are key factors for the diagnosis of sarcopenia. The EWGSOP2 recommended using ultrasound (US) as a reliable device to measure muscle mass (MM), but A-mode US still needs to be validated for older adults. This study aimed to evaluate the association between measurements of muscle thickness (MT) by portable A-mode US and, muscle quantity by Dual-Energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in older adults.
Cross-sectional study, with 115 participants included. Muscle mass was assessed by DXA and MT of the biceps, triceps, anterior thigh, and calf by A-mode US and handgrip strength by a dynamometer.
The majority were women (n = 96; 83%), 69 ± 6 years. The MT sum (biceps, triceps, thigh, and calf) assessed by the US was not associated with the appendicular lean mass (ALM) assessed by DXA after controlling for sex and age (R = 0.524; p = 0.139; effect size = 0.53). The MT sum biceps and triceps was still significantly associated with MM arms/2 even when controlling for sex and age (which were also significant) (R = 0.551; p < 0.001; effect size = 0.56). The MT sum thigh and calf was not associated with MM legs/2 in adjusted models (R = 0.499; p = 0.688; effect size = 0.51).
This finding shows that the portable A-mode US may not be an appropriate method for estimating MM in extremities (the sum of arms and legs), but can be appropriate for estimating only MM arms in healthy older adults.
背景/目的：力量和肌肉量是诊断肌肉减少症的关键因素。欧洲老年人肌肉减少症工作组（EWGSOP2）推荐使用超声（US）作为测量肌肉量（MM）的可靠设备，但A型超声仍需在老年人中进行验证。本研究旨在评估便携式A型超声测量的肌肉厚度（MT）与老年人双能X线吸收法（DXA）测量的肌肉量之间的关联。
横断面研究，纳入115名参与者。通过DXA评估肌肉量，通过A型超声评估肱二头肌、肱三头肌、大腿前部和小腿的MT，并通过测力计评估握力。
大多数为女性（n = 96；83%），年龄69±6岁。在控制性别和年龄后，超声评估的MT总和（肱二头肌、肱三头肌、大腿和小腿）与DXA评估的四肢瘦体重（ALM）无关（R = 0.524；p = 0.139；效应量 = 0.53）。即使在控制性别和年龄（二者也具有显著性）后，肱二头肌和肱三头肌的MT总和与手臂MM/2仍显著相关（R = 0.551；p < 0.001；效应量 = 0.56）。在调整模型中，大腿和小腿的MT总和与腿部MM/2无关（R = 0.499；p = 0.688；效应量 = 0.51）。
这一发现表明，便携式A型超声可能不是估计四肢（手臂和腿部总和）MM的合适方法，但可能仅适用于估计健康老年人的手臂MM。
