2025-06-26 早稲田大学
<関連情報>
- https://www.waseda.jp/inst/research/news/81281
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405457725003419
ふくらはぎ周囲径の経時的変化と骨格筋量との関係 Relationship between longitudinal changes in calf circumference and skeletal muscle mass
Ryoko Kawakami, Kumpei Tanisawa, Nobuhiro Nakamura, Tomoko Ito, Chiyoko Usui, Yumiko Inoue, Yiwen Chen, Daiki Watanabe, Motohiko Miyachi , Suguru Torii, Taishi Midorikawa, Kaori Ishii, Katsuhiko Suzuki, Shizuo Sakamoto, Mitsuru Higuchi, Koichiro Oka
Clinical Nutrition ESPEN Available online: 28 May 2025
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clnesp.2025.05.044
Summary
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.
Methods
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.
Results
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).
Conclusions
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.
