Efficiency of Skeletal Muscle Mass/Weight Measurement for Distinguishing Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease: A Prospective Analysis Using InBody Bioimpedance Devices

Overview

Journal Nutrients

Date 2025 Jan 8

PMID 39771043

Authors

Miwa Tatsuta

Tsutomu Masaki

Shungo Kimura

Yudai Sato

Akemi Tomida

Ichiro Ishikawa

Yu Nakamura

Kei Takuma

Mai Nakahara

Kyoko Oura

Tomoko Tadokoro

Koji Fujita

Joji Tani

Asahiro Morishita

Takashi Himoto

Shinjiro Miyazaki

Tsuyoshi Maeta

Yoshihiro Mori

Fumikazu Kohi

Hideki Kobara

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background/objectives: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is diagnosed when hepatic steatosis is proven by imaging and one of the five cardiometabolic criteria is present. The relationship between MASLD and body composition components has recently received increased research attention. However, the five cardiometabolic criteria do not include components of body composition. This study aimed to identify significant body composition factors associated with MASLD in patients undergoing health checkups.

Methods: This study included a cohort of 6599 examinees who participated in a health check-up conducted between 2022 and 2023, and their data were prospectively analyzed. The inclusion criteria were undergoing abdominal ultrasonography, alcohol consumption <30 g/day for males or <20 g/day for females, and one of the five cardiometabolic criteria.

Results: Finally, 3864 examinees were enrolled. In total, 1133 (51.8%) males and 454 (27.1%) females had MASLD. Sarcopenia was present in only 0.62% of males and 0.66% of females with MASLD. The MASLD group had significantly lower skeletal muscle mass/weight (SMM/WT) values than the non-MASLD group. Multivariate analysis revealed that SMM/WT was independently associated with MASLD.

Conclusions: SMM/WT was significantly associated with MASLD. Therefore, muscle mass assessment using SMM/WT may be a potential marker for diagnosing MASLD.

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