Muscle Mass Reference Values of Greek Adult Population: A Cross-Sectional Study for Sarcopenia Definition in Greece.

Appendicular Lean Mass Index (ALMI) cut-off values for the Greek population were established using the mean minus 2 standard deviations method.

• ALMI cut-off value for Greek males: 5.61 kg/m2
• ALMI cut-off value for Greek females: 4.06 kg/m2
• Cut-off values were calculated as mean - 2 SDs from a healthy young reference population
• Measurements were obtained using Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (DXA)

Skeletal Muscle Mass Index (SMI) cut-off values for the Greek population were established using BIA measurements.

• SMI cut-off value for Greek males: 9.66 kg/m2
• SMI cut-off value for Greek females: 7.83 kg/m2
• Cut-off values were calculated as mean - 2 SDs
• Measurements were obtained using Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA)

The study recruited 185 healthy Greek adults between June 2020 and June 2022 using convenience sampling.

• Total sample size: 185 healthy adults
• 103 males and 82 females were included
• Recruitment period spanned June 2020 to June 2022
• Convenience sampling method was used
• ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT04584944

Body composition was measured using two different methods, BIA and DXA, to enable calculation of both SMI and ALMI.

• Both Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) and Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (DXA) were applied to all participants
• BIA was used to calculate Skeletal Muscle Mass Index (SMI)
• DXA was used to calculate Appendicular Lean Mass Index (ALMI)
• The use of two methods allowed cross-validation of muscle mass assessment approaches

The authors identified this as the first study of its type in Greece, noting the need for validation in broader populations.

• To the authors' knowledge, this is the first study establishing muscle mass reference values specifically for the Greek population
• The sample was described as 'a rather selected sample of healthy Greek adult population'
• Authors noted the need to validate values in studies including both rural and urban populations
• Authors also noted the need for validation in sarcopenia studies in older people
• The study was described as recruiting through convenience sampling, limiting generalizability