Prediction and Validation of DXA-Derived Appendicular Fat-Free Adipose Tissue by a Single Ultrasound Image of the Forearm in Japanese Older Adults.

Objectives: To develop regression-based equations for estimating dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) derived appendicular fat-free adipose tissue (FFAT) using a single ultrasound image in the forearm, and to investigate the validity of those equations to calculate FFAT-free appendicular lean mass (aLM-minus-FFAT ) in 311 Japanese adults aged 60 to 79 years.

Methods: Subjects were randomly separated into two groups: 215 in the model-development group (91 men and 124 women) and 96 in the cross-validation group (42 men and 54 women). Appendicular fat mass and aLM were measured by the DXA, and subcutaneous adipose tissue (AT-forearm) and muscle (MT-ulna) thicknesses were measured by ultrasound. Appendicular FFAT was calculated based on the results of a previous study (appendicular FFAT = appendicular fat mass/0.85 x 0.15). The aLM was estimated from MT-ulna using a previously published equation (aLM = 4.89 x MT-ulna x body height - 9.15). Stepwise linear regression analysis was used to determine predictive models for DXA-derived appendicular FFAT from AT-forearm, sex, age, and anthropometrical variables. The best ultrasound prediction equation for estimation of appendicular FFAT was developed and then cross-validated in a subsample of older adults.

Results: There was no significant difference between the DXA-derived and ultrasound-predicted aLM-minus-FFAT . A strong correlation was observed between the DXA-derived and ultrasound-predicted aLM-minus-FFAT (r = 0.935, P < .001). Bland-Altman analysis did not indicate a bias in the prediction of the aLM-minus-FFAT for the validation group.

Conclusions: Our results indicated that a single ultrasound forearm measurement can be used to accurately estimate DXA-derived aLM-minus-FFAT in Japanese older adults, which may be advantageous for community-based physical examinations.