Body Composition in Paraplegic Men

To investigate alterations in the body composition of paraplegic men, 31 complete paraplegic men thoracic (T)4-T 12 neurological level of injury, 16 with paraplegia above (high), and 15 below (low) thoracic 7, were compared with 33 able-bodied men. Whole body dual X-ray absorptiometry was used to estimate regional (arms, legs) and total body bone mineral density (g/cm2), lean, and fat mass (g).The influence of the neurological level of injury and the duration of paralysis in relation with the above parameters were also investigated. Body mass index, bone mineral density, and lean mass were significantly decreased (p < 0.0005) and fat mass was increased (p < 0.05) in the legs and total body composition in paraplegics. Bone mineral density was significantly lower in high paraplegics' arms compared with low paraplegics (p = 0.028). The correlation of body mass index with fat mass was statistically significant in all paraplegics and controls (r = 0.57, p = 0.001 and r = 0.73, p = 0.0001, respectively) and in low paraplegics (r = 0.72, p = 0.004). Legs' bone mineral density and arms' fat mass were correlated with the duration of paralysis in all paraplegics (r = −0.46, p = 0.009 and r = 0.43, p = 0.020, respectively) and in high paraplegics (r = 0.73, p = 0.001 and r = 0.55, p = 0.042, respectively). Total fat mass was correlated with the duration of paralysis in high paraplegics (r = 0.5, p = 0.05). These results suggest body composition changes in paraplegics.