Low Subcutaneous Adiposity Associates with Higher Mortality in Female Patients with Cirrhosis

Differences in body composition between the sexes exist in healthy subjects, [1,2] and populations with cancer [3] and cirrhosis, [4 –6] with females having higher adipose tissue mass (adiposity) and males having greater muscularity. Body composition of people with cirrhosis has been assessed using approaches such as air displacement plethysmography, bioelectrical impedance analysis, and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. [4,7] However, the ability of these techniques to differentiate between two major body compartments, muscle and adipose tissue as well as capability to provide a specific measure of adipose tissue depots (i.e., visceral, subcutaneous) is limited.

Source: Journal of Hepatology - April 27, 2018 Category: Gastroenterology Authors: Maryam Ebadi, Puneeta Tandon, Carlos Moctezuma-Velazquez, Sunita Ghosh, Vickie E. Baracos, Vera C. Mazurak, Aldo J. Montano-Loza Source Type: research