| Summary: | Aim of the work: Descriptions of the body composition parameters and metabolism in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients are limited. The aim of the present work was to assess the body composition factors and basal metabolic rate (BMR) in Iranian SLE patients and to study its relation to disease activity.
Patients and methods: Seventy-four female SLE patients and 76 matched controls were included in the present study. The body mass index (BMI), body fat (BF), visceral fat (VF), body muscle (BM) and basal metabolic rate (BMR) were measured using BIA (bioelectrical impedance analysis). The international physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ) was used to assess physical activity. SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) was assessed for all the patients.
Results: The mean age of the patients was 38.5 ± 10.1 years with a median disease duration of 7.5 years. The median SLEDAI was 4. Body composition factors (BMI, BF, VF, and BM) were not significantly different between the patients and their controls. The BMR in SLE patients was significantly lower (1328.4 ± 154.6 kcal/day) than the controls (1400.4 ± 200.4 kcal/day) (p = 0.01). No differences have been found in body composition parameters and BMR between the SLE patients with high and low SLEDAI or daily corticosteroid dose. There was no significant correlation between the SLEDAI and any of the studied parameters except for a negative association with age (r = −0.3, p = 0.03).
Conclusion: SLE women have a significantly lower BMR compared to their controls. No significant differences have been observed regarding BMI, BF, BM and VF between the groups.
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