The effect of ageing on fat infiltration of thigh and paraspinal muscles in men

Engelke K, Ghasemikaram M, Chaudry O, Uder M, Nagel AM, Jakob F, Kemmler W (2022)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2022

Journal

Aging Clinical and Experimental Research Editrice Kurtis

DOI: 10.1007/s40520-022-02149-1

Abstract

Background Myosteatosis, skeletal muscle fat infiltration, is associated with inflammation and fibrosis. The age-related increase of myosteatosis is an important characteristic of sarcopenia and contributes to fragility. Aims To investigate the impact of healthy aging on intermuscular adipose tissue (IMAT) and muscle fat fraction (FF) in the thigh and the paraspinal muscles in males. Methods In 54 healthy males (age 20-70), all active hobby golfers, magnetic resonance imaging was performed to determine volume of IMAT, volume of muscle tissue (MT) and of percentage of FF. Results Between ages 20-70, at the thigh, IMAT/MT volume and MT FF increased annually by 2.9% and 1.3%, respectively. At the psoas IMAT/Psoas volume did not change with age. MT FF increased by 1.5% annually. At the erector spinae IMAT/Erector volume decreased by 0.3% and MT FF increased by 2.8% annually. Discussion With increasing age, in males, thigh muscle atrophied, muscle tissue was partly replaced by adipose tissue and remaining muscle tissue also contained more fat. Similar effects were observed in the erector spinae. The psoas muscle did not atrophy, although MT FF also increased with age. Overall correlations with age were weak to moderate with higher correlations observed in the paraspinal muscles. Conclusions Age-related increases of muscle fat infiltration were observed in the thigh and in the spine. Muscle atrophy did not occur in the psoas. In cross-sectional studies, an adjustment of volumetric parameters by muscle volume is advisable when comparing age-dependent results.

Authors with CRIS profile

Klaus Engelke Medizinische Fakultät Mansour Ghasemikaram Lehrstuhl für Medizinische Physik und Mikrogewebetechnik Oliver Chaudry Department of Medicine 3 – Rheumatology and Immunology Michael Uder Lehrstuhl für Diagnostische Radiologie Armin Michael Nagel Professur für metabolische und funktionelle MR-Bildgebung Wolfgang Kemmler Lehrstuhl für Medizinische Physik und Mikrogewebetechnik

Involved external institutions

Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Engelke, K., Ghasemikaram, M., Chaudry, O., Uder, M., Nagel, A.M., Jakob, F., & Kemmler, W. (2022). The effect of ageing on fat infiltration of thigh and paraspinal muscles in men. Aging Clinical and Experimental Research. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s40520-022-02149-1

MLA:

Engelke, Klaus, et al. "The effect of ageing on fat infiltration of thigh and paraspinal muscles in men." Aging Clinical and Experimental Research (2022).

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