Development of bioelectrical impedance analysis prediction equations for body composition with the use of a multicomponent model for use in epidemiologic surveys

doi:10.1093/ajcn/77.2.331

The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

Volume 77, Issue 2, February 2003, Pages 331-340

https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/77.2.331 Get rights and content

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ABSTRACT

Background:

Previous studies to develop and validate bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) equations to predict body composition were limited by small sample sizes, sex specificity, and reliance on reference methods that use a 2-component model.

Objective:

This study was designed to develop sex-specific BIA equations to predict total body water (TBW) and fat-free mass (FFM) with the use of a multicomponent model for children and adults.

Design:

Data from 5 centers were pooled to create a sample of 1474 whites and 355 blacks aged 12–94 y. TBW was measured by dilution, and FFM was estimated with a multicomponent model based on densitometry, isotope dilution, and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.

Results:

The final race-combined TBW prediction equations included stature²/resistance and body weight (R² = 0.84 and 0.79 and root mean square errors of 3.8 and 2.6 L for males and females, respectively; CV: 8%) and tended to underpredict TBW in black males (2.0 L) and females (1.4 L) and to overpredict TBW in white males (0.5 L) and females (0.3 L). The race-combined FFM prediction equations contained the same independent variables (R² = 0.90 and 0.83 and root mean square errors of 3.9 and 2.9 kg for males and females, respectively; CV: ≈6%) and tended to underpredict FFM in black males (2.1 kg) and females (1.6 kg) and to overpredict FFM in white males (0.4 kg) and females (0.3 kg).

Conclusion:

These equations have excellent precision and are recommended for use in epidemiologic studies to describe normal levels of body composition.

KEY WORDS

Bioelectrical impedance analysis

prediction equations

total body water

fat-free mass

multicomponent model

epidemiologic surveys

Cited by (0)

^¹: From the Department of Community Health, Wright State University School of Medicine, Dayton, OH (SSS and WCC); the Obesity Research Center, St Lukes–Roosevelt Hospital, Columbia University, New York (SBH); the US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center, Grand Forks, ND (HCL); Nutritional Sciences, University of Wisconsin, Madison (DS); the Military Operational Medicine Program, Military Medical Research and Materiel Command, Frederick, MD (KF); the National Institutes of Health, Division of Digestive Diseases and Nutrition (RJK) and the Division of Nutrition Research (VSH), National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Bethesda, MD; and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, Division of Health Examination Statistics, Hyattsville, MD (KMF and CLJ).

^²: Mention of a trademark or proprietary product does not constitute a guarantee of warranty of the product by the US Department of Agriculture and does not imply its approval to the exclusion of other products that may also be suitable. US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Northern Plains Area, is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer, and all agency services are available without discrimination.

^³: Supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the US Army Medical Research and Materiel Command, the Nutritional Services Branch, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, and grants HD 27063, HD 12252, and HL 13404 from the National Institutes of Health.

^⁴: Reprints not available. Address correspondence to SS Sun, Lifespan Health Research Center, Department of Community Health, 3171 Research Boulevard, Kettering, OH 45420. E-mail: [email protected].