P-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopic study of healthy human calf muscle

P-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy was performed on calf muscle of 25 hea lthy volunteers (during resting) to establish the baseline metabolic ratios on Indian population. The study reveals significantly low PCr/Pi ratio and the presence of phosphodiester (PDE) peak in all the healthy volunteers, i n contrast to data reported in western literature. The spectra mimic the pa tterns obtained from patients of western population with mitochondrial impa irment. The findings indicate muscular weakness in our population and may b e attributed to sedentary lifestyle, poor nutrition (low protein intake) or due to ethnic differences. These novel findings are of importance and need in-depth investigations.