Body Composition in Starvation, Inflammation, and Aging: The Relationship Among Wasting, Cachexia, and Sarcopenia

Abstract

The changes in body composition that occur with aging and disease have important implications for functional status and survival (Roubenoff 1991). Losses of lean body mass (LBM) and body cell mass (BCM) are associated with loss of strength, immune function, pulmonary function, and with increased disability and mortality (Watkins 1992, Castaneda 1995, Launer 1994, Arora 1982). The literature in this field is unfortunately complicated by the use of terms that are used interchangeably, in overlapping ways, and without standardized scientific definitions. Thus, “wasting,” “cachexia,” “marasmus,” “inanition,” and “malnutrition” are all used to denote undesired weight loss, sometimes with and sometimes without reference to specific changes in such body compartments as BCM, water, or fat. This state of affairs is confusing and perhaps misleading, and may be clarified by specifying the mechanisms by which these states evolve (Roubenoff 1997).