Quantification of skeletal muscle mass: sarcopenia as a marker of overall health in children and adults

Sarcopenia is defined as the loss of muscle mass or function and has been associated with increased morbidity and mortality in a variety of diseased populations. Sarcopenia results from a higher rate of muscle protein degradation compared to protein synthesis and is an important marker of metabolic status related to nutrition and physical activity. The diagnosis of sarcopenia is accomplished by clinical assessment demonstrating decreased muscle function and radiographic confirmation of decreased muscle mass, via dual X-ray absorptiometry, bioelectric impedance or cross-sectional imaging with CT or MRI. However, normative data for skeletal muscle mass are lacking, especially for children and young adults. Additionally, studies of skeletal muscle mass by cross-sectional imaging in children are scarce. Here, we review the concept of sarcopenia with an emphasis on its relevance in the pediatric population.