PLoS ONE (Jan 2022)

Body composition reference values in Singaporean adults using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry-The Yishun study.

  • BaoLin Pauline Soh,
  • Shuen Yee Lee,
  • Wai Yin Wong,
  • Benedict Wei Jun Pang,
  • Lay Khoon Lau,
  • Khalid Abdul Jabbar,
  • Wei Ting Seah,
  • Kexun Kenneth Chen,
  • Sivasubramanian Srinivasan,
  • Tze Pin Ng,
  • Shiou-Liang Wee

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0276434
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 17, no. 10
p. e0276434

Abstract

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ObjectivesThis study establishes age- and sex-specific reference values for fat mass index (FMI), lean mass index (LMI), appendicular LMI (aLMI), and body fat distribution indices including Android/Gynoid % fat ratio and Trunk/Limb % fat ratio in multi-ethnic Singaporean adults.MethodsA population-based cross-sectional study using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (Hologic Discovery Wi) was carried out to measure whole body and regional fat and lean mass in community-dwelling adults. A total of 537 adults (57.5% women), aged from 21 to 90 years, were recruited from the large north-eastern residential town of Yishun. Age- and sex-specific percentile reference values were generated for FMI, LMI, aLMI, Android/Gynoid % fat ratio and Trunk/Limb % fat ratio using the Lambda-Mu-Sigma method. The relationship between the parameters and age were assessed through the Pearson's correlation coefficient.ResultsAll parameters demonstrated significant correlation with age (p ConclusionWe have established DXA-based body composition reference data for the Singapore adult population. These reference data will be particularly useful in geriatric, obesity and oncology clinics, enabling the prescription of appropriate therapy to individuals at risk of morbidity from unfavorable body composition phenotypes. It also adds on to the limited reference database on Southeast Asian body composition.