Ultrasound-assessed abdominal fat distribution and sarcopenia parameters in community-dwelling young older adults
VAT was positively associated with muscle mass indices, while SAT was negatively associated with physical performance and relative grip strength.
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What the study showed
In 72 adults aged 60-74 years, visceral adipose tissue (VAT) showed positive associations with skeletal muscle mass indices (SMI and ASMI). Subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) was negatively associated with gait speed and relative handgrip strength. Sex-specific patterns were observed.
How it was done
Cross-sectional study (n=72, 68.1% women); abdominal fat assessed by ultrasound; muscle mass by BIA; strength by handgrip dynamometer; physical performance by gait speed; linear regression adjusted for sex, age, and physical activity.
Risk of bias
Small sample (n=72) and cross-sectional design preclude causal inference. Female predominance (68.1%) limits generalizability to men. The abstract is truncated, preventing full evaluation of sex-stratified results.
What this study does NOT prove
The study does not prove that reducing visceral or subcutaneous fat prevents or reverses sarcopenia.
In clinical practice
Findings are insufficient to modify clinical practice; they generate hypotheses for longitudinal investigation. Distinguishing VAT from SAT may be relevant in body composition assessment of young older adults.
Limitations
Small sample (n=72) and cross-sectional design preclude causal inference. Female predominance (68.1%) limits generalizability to men. The abstract is truncated, preventing full evaluation of sex-stratified results.
Technical appendix
Version history
- 1.0 · 2026-07-20 — Auto-generated under Evidence Standard v1.0
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