Relationships between the lean mass index and bone mass and reference values of muscular status in healthy Chinese children and adolescents

This study aimed to analyze the relationships between the lean mass index (LMI) and bone outcomes in Chinese children and adolescents using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and to establish sex-specific reference percentile curves for the assessment of muscle status. A total of 1541 Chinese children and adolescents between the ages of 5 and 19 years were recruited from southern China. Body composition was measured by DXA (Lunar Prodigy) to acquire total body and total body less head (TBLH) measures. LMI was calculated as the LM (kg) divided by the height in meters squared. Strong sex gaps were observed after age 14 in total body LMI and appendicular LMI (p < 0.001). LM and LMI values continued to increase for boys up to age 14 compared to girls who plateaued after age 12. For each sex group, total body bone mineral content (BMC) and TBLH BMC were highly correlated with total body LMI and appendicular LMI (r = 0.856–0.916 in boys, and r = 0.651–0.804 in girls, p < 0.001). The appendicular LMI was more strongly associated with total body BMC and TBLH BMC than was total body LMI. The correlations between the BMC values and the LM measures were stronger than the fat mass results. We also present sex-specific percentile curves for LM–age and LMI–age relationships, which could be useful for identifying the LM deficits in this population.