Persons with multiple sclerosis (MS) who have greater disability exhibit higher body fat and lower bone tissue content and density than those with mild disability, a recent study found. Researchers conducted a cross-sectional investigation of 47 ambulatory persons with relapsing remitting MS who were grouped by Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores as having mild (1.0‒4.0; n=26) or moderate (4.5‒6.5; n=21) disability. Main outcome measures were whole-body and regional soft tissue composition (%body fat [BF], fat mass [FM], and fat-free soft tissue mass [FFM]), bone mineral content (BMC), and bone mineral density (BMD). Other outcomes included physical fitness, mobility, cognitive processing speed, symptoms, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL). They found:
- Whole-body and regional %BF and FM were significantly higher, and whole-body and appendicular BMC and BMD were significantly lower in participants with moderate disability than those with mild disability.
- There were no significant differences in whole-body or regional FFM by disability status.
- In the overall sample, body fat correlated significantly with cardiorespiratory fitness, pain symptoms, and psychological HRQOL.
- FFM and BMC correlated primarily with measures of muscular strength.
Pilutti LA, Motl RW. Body composition and disability in people with multiple sclerosis: A dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry study. [Published online ahead of print January 3, 2019]. Mult Scler Relat Disord . doi:10.1016/j.msard.2019.01.009.