Fat Replacement of Paraspinal Muscles with Aging in Healthy Adults

TY - JOUR

T1 - Fat Replacement of Paraspinal Muscles with Aging in Healthy Adults

AU - Dahlqvist, Julia R

AU - Vissing, Christoffer R

AU - Hedermann, Gitte

AU - Thomsen, Carsten

AU - Vissing, John

PY - 2017/3/1

Y1 - 2017/3/1

N2 - Purpose The aims of this study were to investigate the age-related changes in fatty replacement and cross-sectional area (CSA) of cervical, thoracic, and lumbar paraspinal muscles versus leg muscles in healthy adults and to test for association between muscle fat fraction and lifestyle factors. Methods Fifty-three healthy adults (24-76 yr) were included. Dixon magnetic resonance imaging technique was used to determine CSA and to quantify the fat fraction of paraspinal and leg muscles. Muscle CSA and fat fractions were tested for association with age and muscle strength. The fat fractions were also tested for association with sex, body mass index (BMI), physical activity, and lower back pain. Results Both paraspinal and leg fat fractions correlated directly with age (P < 0.0001). At all ages, fat fraction was higher in paraspinal than leg muscles. The age-related increase in fat fraction was higher in paraspinal muscles than leg muscles (P < 0.0001). The CSA of the muscles did not correlate with age. Knee extension strength correlated with fat fraction (P < 0.05), and the muscle strength of hip muscles, thigh muscles, and anterior calf muscles correlated with CSA (P < 0.05). Sex was associated with lumbar paraspinal fat fraction (P < 0.05) and BMI with thigh fat fraction (P < 0.001). There was no association between fat fraction and physical activity or lower back pain. Conclusion The paraspinal muscles were more susceptible to age-related changes than leg muscles. Further, men had significantly lower fat fractions in lumbar paraspinal muscles, and BMI was positively associated with thigh, but not paraspinal, fat fraction.

AB - Purpose The aims of this study were to investigate the age-related changes in fatty replacement and cross-sectional area (CSA) of cervical, thoracic, and lumbar paraspinal muscles versus leg muscles in healthy adults and to test for association between muscle fat fraction and lifestyle factors. Methods Fifty-three healthy adults (24-76 yr) were included. Dixon magnetic resonance imaging technique was used to determine CSA and to quantify the fat fraction of paraspinal and leg muscles. Muscle CSA and fat fractions were tested for association with age and muscle strength. The fat fractions were also tested for association with sex, body mass index (BMI), physical activity, and lower back pain. Results Both paraspinal and leg fat fractions correlated directly with age (P < 0.0001). At all ages, fat fraction was higher in paraspinal than leg muscles. The age-related increase in fat fraction was higher in paraspinal muscles than leg muscles (P < 0.0001). The CSA of the muscles did not correlate with age. Knee extension strength correlated with fat fraction (P < 0.05), and the muscle strength of hip muscles, thigh muscles, and anterior calf muscles correlated with CSA (P < 0.05). Sex was associated with lumbar paraspinal fat fraction (P < 0.05) and BMI with thigh fat fraction (P < 0.001). There was no association between fat fraction and physical activity or lower back pain. Conclusion The paraspinal muscles were more susceptible to age-related changes than leg muscles. Further, men had significantly lower fat fractions in lumbar paraspinal muscles, and BMI was positively associated with thigh, but not paraspinal, fat fraction.

KW - Adipose Tissue/anatomy & histology

KW - Adult

KW - Aged

KW - Aging/physiology

KW - Body Mass Index

KW - Exercise/physiology

KW - Humans

KW - Leg

KW - Low Back Pain/physiopathology

KW - Magnetic Resonance Imaging

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Muscle Strength/physiology

KW - Muscle, Skeletal/anatomy & histology

KW - Paraspinal Muscles/anatomy & histology

KW - Sex Factors

KW - Young Adult

U2 - 10.1249/MSS.0000000000001119

DO - 10.1249/MSS.0000000000001119

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 27741218

SN - 0195-9131

VL - 49

SP - 595

EP - 601

JO - Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise

JF - Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise

IS - 3

ER -