Kawakami Ryoko, Tanisawa Kumpei, Nakamura Nobuhiro, Ito Tomoko, Usui Chiyoko, Inoue Yumiko, Chen Yiwen, Watanabe Daiki, Miyachi Motohiko, Torii Suguru, Midorikawa Taishi, Ishii Kaori, Suzuki Katsuhiko, Sakamoto Shizuo, Higuchi Mitsuru, Oka Koichiro
Physical Fitness Research Institute, Meiji Yasuda Life Foundation of Health and Welfare, Tokyo, Japan; Waseda Institute for Sport Sciences, Waseda University, Saitama, Japan.
Faculty of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, Saitama, Japan.
Clin Nutr ESPEN. 2025 Aug;68:447-450. doi: 10.1016/j.clnesp.2025.05.044. Epub 2025 May 28.
BACKGROUND & AIMS: Calf circumference serves as a surrogate marker of skeletal muscle mass. However, its ability to reflect changes in skeletal muscle mass remains unclear. This longitudinal study aimed to assess the relationship between changes in calf circumference and appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM) and to explore the effects of age and obesity.
The two-wave cohort data of 227 adults aged 40-87 years were analyzed. The maximum calf circumference was measured in a standing position, whereas body composition, including ASM, was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Pearson's correlation coefficient was calculated to assess this relationship.
The mean follow-up period was 8.0 ± 0.4 years. The mean changes in calf circumference and ASM (follow-up - baseline value) were -0.1 ± 1.2 cm and -0.7 ± 1.0 kg, respectively. Changes in calf circumference and ASM showed a positive correlation in men and women (r = 0.71 and 0.71, respectively). A 1.0 cm reduction in calf circumference corresponded to a 1.4 and 0.9 kg reduction in ASM for men and women, respectively. As in the primary analysis, subgroup analysis based on age and obesity exhibited similar positive correlations between changes in calf circumference and ASM (r = 0.70, 0.67, 0.69, and 0.72 for middle-aged, older, non-obese, and obese adults, respectively).
Longitudinal changes in calf circumference were positively correlated with those in ASM, regardless of age and obesity status. As such, changes in calf circumference could serve as a reliable indicator of variations in skeletal muscle mass.
小腿围是骨骼肌质量的替代指标。然而，其反映骨骼肌质量变化的能力尚不清楚。这项纵向研究旨在评估小腿围变化与四肢骨骼肌质量（ASM）之间的关系，并探讨年龄和肥胖的影响。
分析了227名40 - 87岁成年人的两波队列数据。站立位测量最大小腿围，而包括ASM在内的身体成分则使用双能X线吸收法测量。计算Pearson相关系数以评估这种关系。
平均随访期为8.0±0.4年。小腿围和ASM的平均变化（随访值 - 基线值）分别为-0.1±1.2厘米和-0.7±1.0千克。小腿围和ASM的变化在男性和女性中均呈正相关（r分别为0.71和0.71）。小腿围每减少1.0厘米，男性和女性的ASM分别减少1.4千克和0.9千克。与初步分析一样，基于年龄和肥胖的亚组分析显示小腿围变化与ASM之间存在类似的正相关（中年、老年、非肥胖和肥胖成年人的r分别为0.70、0.67、0.69和0.72）。
无论年龄和肥胖状况如何，小腿围的纵向变化与ASM的变化呈正相关。因此，小腿围的变化可作为骨骼肌质量变化的可靠指标。
