IDENTIFICATION OF RISK PHENOTYPES FOR SARCOPENIA USING DXA WHOLE BODY COMPOSITION, ANTHROPOMETRIC, AND MUSCULOSKELETAL ANALYSIS AMONG YOUNG ADULTS

Abstract

Background: Sarcopenia, historically considered an aging-related condition, is increasingly observed in younger populations. Contributing factors such as inadequate nutrition, sedentary lifestyles, and metabolic disturbances may predispose young adults to premature muscle mass loss and functional impairment. Early identification is essential for timely intervention and prevention of long-term morbidity. Objective: To identify sarcopenia risk phenotypes in young adults by examining associations between DXA-derived body composition, anthropometric indices, and musculoskeletal fitness parameters. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 82 healthy participants aged 15–35 years at the Center for Nuclear Medicine (CENUM).Assessment tools included dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) for whole-body composition, hand grip strength (HGS) testing, and the SARC-F questionnaire. Sarcopenia was defined based on established cut-offs for Body Mass Density (BMD), hand grip strength, and functional performance. Pearson correlation coefficients were used to assess relationships between muscle strength and bone mineral density (BMD). A significance level of p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 19.5% of participants met the diagnostic criteria for sarcopenia. Hand grip strength was significantly correlated with BMD values. Specifically, HGS showed a strong negative correlation with femoral neck BMD (r = −0.506, 95% CI: −0.66 to −0.30, p = 0.0001) and a moderate positive correlation with total hip BMD (r = 0.381, 95% CI: 0.17 to 0.55, p = 0.0004). In contrast, SARC-F scores demonstrated weak and statistically non-significant correlations with BMD (r = −0.103 to 0.112, p > 0.05), suggesting limited sensitivity in detecting early bone-muscle deterioration. Conclusion: Nearly one-fifth of young adults in this sample met the criteria for  sarcopenia, emphasizing the need for proactive screening in this age group. Hand grip strength emerged as a reliable surrogate marker for bone health and muscular function, whereas a measure such as SARC-F was not effective for younger adults. Incorporating objective strength assessments and promoting strength-based interventions may help mitigate the early onset of sarcopenia and its long-term consequences.