Fat‐free mass and calf circumference as body composition indices to determine non‐exercise activity thermogenesis in patients with diabetes

Abstract

Aims/IntroductionTo investigate the clinical and anthropometrical parameters that are associated with non‐exercise activity thermogenesis that is composed of basal energy expenditure (BEE) and diet‐induced thermogenesis (DIT) in patients with diabetes.Materials and MethodsBody composition was assessed using bioelectrical impedance, and BEE and DIT were measured using indirect calorimetry in 40 Japanese patients with diabetes.Results BEE correlated positively with bodyweight, body mass index, fat mass, and fat‐free mass, and correlated negatively with age in both men and women. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, BEE correlated positively with both fat mass and fat‐free mass independently of sex and age. In addition, DIT correlated positively with bodyweight, body mass index, fat mass and fat‐free mass, and correlated negatively with age in women, but not men. Fat‐free mass contributed to DIT at least partly, and an aging‐related decrease in DIT was observed. The best anthropometric parameter that reflected fat mass and fat‐free mass was hip circumference (HC) and calf circumference (CC), respectively, in both men and women. Indeed, both HC (men β = 0.600, P < 0.001; women β = 0.752, P < 0.001) and CC (men β = 0.810, P = 0.012; women β = 0.821, P = 0.002) were correlated with BEE independently of age and sex. In addition, CC (β = 0.653, P = 0.009), but not HC was correlated with DIT significantly only in females, independently of age.Conclusions HC reflects fat mass and was positively associated with BEE, but not with DIT. In contrast, CC reflects fat‐free mass, and was positively associated with BEE in both men and women, and with DIT in women.

Weight-adjusted lean body mass and calf circumference are protective against obesity-associated insulin resistance and metabolic abnormalities

“…Furthermore, an association of CC with insulin resistance and carotid atherosclerosis was reported [14]. Recently, we found that lean body mass and CC are associated with basal energy expenditure and partly with diet-induced thermogenesis in patients with diabetes [6]. Together with the present findings, we propose to measure CC to estimate lean body mass and the potential protection against obesity-associated insulin resistance and metabolic abnormalities during routine health examinations.…”

Waist‐to‐calf circumstance ratio is an independent predictor of hepatic steatosis and fibrosis in patients with type 2 diabetes

“…A previous study reported that subjects with increasing CC had significantly higher basal energy expenditure and diet‐induced thermogenesis . Moreover, CC reflected fat free mass more than BMI or WC . Also, reduced thigh and calf circumferences were positively correlated with insulin resistance and carotid atherosclerosis .…”

“…The mechanism of sarcopenic obesity was not fully evaluated. A previous study reported that subjects with increasing CC had significantly higher basal energy expenditure and diet‐induced thermogenesis . Moreover, CC reflected fat free mass more than BMI or WC .…”

Influence of Body Composition on Arterial Stiffness in Middle-Aged Adults: Healthy UAL Cross-Sectional Study

“…While no other studies have been found using the same tools as our investigation to measure body composition, a lot of research has been carried out on cardiovascular risk markers other than AS. It should also be noted that fat-free mass represents the weights of muscle, bone, and internal organs [41] and we found several examples of different research approaches relating to our analysis, but where FFMI was evaluated, like lean body mass, with measurements taken by means of bioimpedance, skinfolds, or a Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scanner. In general, our data are in line with the results from a study of adolescents, in which lean mass (derived from skinfold and bioimpedance measurements) was one of the variables most strongly associated with cardiovascular risk parameters, such as systolic blood pressure, maximal oxygen uptake (VO 2 max), or triglycerides [42].…”