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. 2025 Jul 2;14(13):4683.
doi: 10.3390/jcm14134683.

Factors Associated with Changes in Skeletal Muscle Mass in Medical Health Checkups

Saori Onishi  1 , Akira Fukuda  2 , Masahiro Matsui  1 , Kosuke Ushiro  1 , Tomohiro Nishikawa  1 , Akira Asai  1 , Soo Ki Kim  3 , Sachiyo Yoshio  4 , Hiroki Nishikawa  1
Affiliations

Factors Associated with Changes in Skeletal Muscle Mass in Medical Health Checkups

Saori Onishi et al. J Clin Med. .

Abstract

Background/Objectives: To explore the factors associated with changes in skeletal muscle mass among Japanese health checkup subjects (5214 men and 6614 women). Methods: Fat-free index (FF index) was defined as FF mass divided by height squared (kg/m2). Change rate in FF index (kg/m2/year) was defined as [FF index (second time) - FF index (first time (i.e., baseline))]/interval between first and second times (years). Factors associated with change rate in FF index >0 kg/m2/year were primarily examined. Results: The average age, body mass index (BMI) were 52.4 years and 23.9 kg/m2 for men, and 50.5 years and 21.8 kg/m2 for women. In the multivariate analyses, age (p < 0.0001), body mass index (BMI, p < 0.0001), baseline FF index (p < 0.0001), waist circumference (p = 0.0365), fasting blood sugar (FBS, p = 0.0012), alanine aminotransferase (p < 0.0001) and alcohol intake were found to be significant in men, while BMI (p < 0.0001), baseline FF index (p < 0.0001), triglyceride (p = 0.0031), FBS (p = 0.0064) and alcohol intake were found to be significant in women. Conclusions: Lifestyle guidance from various aspects including metabolic factors may be important to maintain skeletal muscle mass.

Keywords: amount of change; metabolic disorder; risk factor; sarcopenia; skeletal muscle mass.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Change rate in FF index according to age in men (A) and women (B). Change rate in FF index (kg/m2/year) = [FF index (second time) − FF index (first time (i.e., baseline))]/interval between first and second times (years).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Change rate in FF index according to body mass index (BMI) in men (A) and women (B). Change rate in FF index (kg/m2/year) = [FF index (second time) − FF index (first time (i.e., baseline))]/interval between first and second times (years).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Change rate in FF index according to waist circumference (WC) in men (A) and women (B). Change rate in FF index (kg/m2/year) = [FF index (second time) − FF index (first time (i.e., baseline))]/interval between first and second times (years).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Change rate in FF index according to baseline FF index in men (A) and women (B). Change rate in FF index (kg/m2/year) = [FF index (second time) − FF index (first time (i.e., baseline))]/interval between first and second times (years).
Figure 5
Figure 5
Change rate in FF index according to alcohol intake in men (A) and women (B). Change rate in FF index (kg/m2/year) = [FF index (second time) − FF index (first time (i.e., baseline))]/interval between first and second times (years). In men, Type A was defined as never-drinkers, Type B as those who drank <210 g of ethanol equivalent in one week, Type C as those who drank 210–420 g of ethanol equivalent in one week, and Type D as those who drank >420 g of ethanol equivalent in one week. In women, Type A was defined as never-drinkers, Type B as those who drank <140 g of ethanol equivalent in one week, Type C as those who drank 140–350 g of ethanol equivalent in one week, and Type D as those who drank >350 g of ethanol equivalent in one week.
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