In interventional clinical trials for obesity, sarcopenia, and other conditions in which body composition changes are expected, understanding muscle composition is critical for interpreting treatment effects accurately. For example, loss of muscle fat should not be mistaken for loss of muscle volume, and preserving muscle volume should not be misinterpreted as lack of weight-loss efficacy. Further, specific muscle composition changes can influence metabolic health, physical function, and the overall quality of weight reduction.
A recently published review paper discusses the different methods for measuring muscle mass in vitro and in vivo, with an emphasis on the imaging methods of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as these are often used as ‘reference’ due to their accuracy and precision.
Beyond muscle volume, MRI can distinguish between the different muscle fat components. There are several approaches to measuring muscle composition with MRI, both with regards to acquisition and analysis. At Antaros Medical, we quantify all adipose tissue within and around the muscle (inter- and intra-MAT) for a complete picture. Measuring all fat is important in interventional trials where changes over time and specificity become critical. Precise and accurate measurements ensure that observed differences reflect true physiological changes rather than methodological variation, essential for interpreting treatment effects in clinical trials.
Publication details:
Title: Reference Methods for Measuring Skeletal Muscle Mass: A Critical Perspective
Authors: Heymsfield SB, Hu HH, Johansson E, Ramirez S, de Oliveira Lemos G, Prado CM, Bennett JP
Find the publication link here.