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Byline: Ankur. Vivek, Pratishtha. Sengar, Rameshwar. Chaurasia, Abhishek. Pathak, Anand. Kumar, Varun. Singh Dear Sir, Acute, generalized, muscle paralysis in a young and healthy individual causes much distress.[1] Periodic paralysis [...]

Background/objective Knowing the distribution of lean soft tissue (LST) among the body segments is of relevance for optimizing athletic performance, monitoring response to training, and for evaluating injury risk. Bioelectrical impedance (BIA) is a portable, low cost, and easy technique to assess body composition. However, most equations used by BIA to predict LST are not specific for the athlete population. The aim of this investigation was to develop and validate equations to estimate dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) appendicular LST of the arms and legs based on whole-body BIA in athletes. Methods Arms and legs LST were assessed by DXA and whole-body reactance (Xc) and resistance (R) were measured by BIA in athletes from various sports. Using measures of height, the resistance index (RI) (RI = height.sup.2/R) was calculated. Prediction equations were established using a cross-validation method where 177 athletes (2/3 of sample) were used for equation development and the remaining 88 athletes (1/3 of sample) were used for equation validation. Results The developed prediction equations were as follows: arm LST = 0.940 × sex (0 = male; 1 = female) + 0.042 × total body weight (kg) + 0.080 × RI + 0.024 × Xc - 3.927; leg LST = 1.983 × sex (0 = male; 1 = female) + 0.154 × total body weight (kg) + 0.127 × RI - 1.147. Both equations validated well for the arms (mean difference = 0.11 kg, R.sup.2 = 0.89, pure error (PE) = 0.61) and for the legs (mean difference = 0.05 kg, R.sup.2 = 0.81, PE = 1.93 kg). There were no differences (p > 0.05) in the mean observed and predicted LST for the arms and legs. Conclusion The developed BIA-based prediction equations provide a valid estimation of upper and lower body LST in athletes., Author(s): Luís B. Sardinha [sup.1] , Inês R. Correia [sup.1] , João P. Magalhães [sup.1] , Pedro B. Júdice [sup.1] , Analiza M. Silva [sup.1] , Megan Hetherington-Rauth [sup.1] Author [...]

Objective Nutritional disorders cause secondary osteoporosis as well as musculoskeletal metabolism dysfunction. The Christian Orthodox Church's fasting in Mediterranean countries such Greece and Cyprus, or M.C.O.C. diet consists of self-restraint from food and/or food categories for 180 [plus or minus] 19 days of total, especially of animal protein and dairy products. This case-control study attempts to investigate the effect of this fasting pattern on musculoskeletal metabolism and bone density. Design One hundred fasters (or M.C.O.C. diet followers; 68 women and 32 men, mean 59 [plus or minus] 6.5) with 32 years average fasting time and 100 non-fasters (66 females and 34 males, mean 58.1 [plus or minus] 6.8; the control group of Mediterranean diet followers) over the age of 50, including menopausal women, were interviewed, as well as physically and laboratory examined along with DEXA measurements of the L2-4 vertebrae and hips. Nutrition data gathered through a 3-day food record during a non-fasting period, while energy intakes calculated on a daily food consumption basis. Results Given the overall low incidence of osteoporosis in the Mediterranean diet, it appears to be more than three times higher than that of M.C.O.C. diet despite the periodic restriction of food intake of animal origin into a slightly hypothermic pattern, which in turn is characterized by increased consumption of multicolored vegetable foods. Conclusions Abstinence from dairy products and meat does not adversely affect musculoskeletal metabolism or bone density. M.C.O.C. diet seems to be 'healthy' eating habit for the musculoskeletal system, as future studies expected to confirm., Author(s): Nikolaos E. Rodopaios [sup.1] , George E. Manolarakis [sup.1] , Alexandra-Aikaterini Koulouri [sup.1] , Eleni Vasara [sup.2] , Sousana K. Papadopoulou [sup.3] , Petros Skepastianos [sup.4] , Emmanouil Dermitzakis [...]

Background The analysis of computerised tomography (CT) images to provide body composition data has grown exponentially. Despite this, there remains limited published data defining the normal range of skeletal muscle area and adipose tissue area using CT. The aim of this study was to determine age- and sex-specific body composition values using CT at the level of the third lumbar vertebrae, in a Caucasian population with a healthy body mass index (BMI). In addition, we sought to develop threshold values for low skeletal muscle mass using these data. Methods We included 107 healthy Caucasian patients (46 males; 61 females) with a healthy BMI (18-25 kg/m.sup.2) for analysis. Body composition data were obtained from a single transverse CT image at the mid-third lumbar vertebrae using ImageJ software. Tissue segmentation was performed using Hounsfield unit thresholds of -29 to +150 for muscle and -190 to -30 for adipose tissue. Results The mean age of the study cohort was 47.8 [plus or minus] 11.0 years (range 21-73) with a median BMI of 23.7 kg/m.sup.2 (interquartile range 22.3-24.8). Patients were sub-divided into age above or below 50 years. Cut-offs for low muscle quantity, representing two standard deviations below the young healthy population mean values, were 43.5 cm.sup.2/m.sup.2 for males and 30.0 cm.sup.2/m.sup.2 for females. Conclusions Our data provide an insight into the distribution of skeletal muscle and adipose tissue surface area values measured on CT from a healthy Caucasian population. Our CT-derived cut-offs for low muscle quantity, based on international guidelines, are much lower than those previously suggested., Author(s): Aidan J. Woodward [sup.1] [sup.2], Allan Avery [sup.3], Shelley E. Keating [sup.4], Leigh C. Ward [sup.5], Jeff S. Coombes [sup.4], Graeme A. Macdonald [sup.1] [sup.2] Author Affiliations: (1) School [...]