Logo Medical Science Monitor

Call: +1.631.470.9640
Mon - Fri 10:00 am - 02:00 pm EST

Contact Us

Logo Medical Science Monitor Logo Medical Science Monitor Logo Medical Science Monitor

Assessment of human body composition using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and bioelectrical impedance analysis

Marek Bolanowski, Bo E. Nilsson

Med Sci Monit 2001; 7(5): MT1029-1033 :: ID: 509293

Abstract

Background: Human body composition, particularly the content of fat tissue and its distribution, has been extensively measured in healthy, diseased, obese and elderly subjects. A variety of non-invasive methods have been applied for these studies. Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is a commonly used method, based on the conduction of electrical current in the body and the differences in the ability to conduct electricity between the fat and water components of the body. Recently, dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) has been introduced for bone mass, bone mineral density and body composition studies. Unlike other methods, DEXA measures three components of the body: bone mineral content, fat tissue mass, and lean tissue mass, and additionally regional fat distribution. The objective of this study was to compare body composition as assessed by DEXA and BIA methods in a sample of 100 patients.
Material/Methods: Body composition was studied in 100 consecutive subjects, 59 women and 41 men. The lean body mass (LBM), fat body mass (FBM), and percent body fat (%BF) were measured by the DEXA and BIA techniques.
Results: There were highly statistically significant linear relationships between LBM, FBM and &percnt;BF assessed by DEXA and BIA in both sexes (p<0.001 for all measurements). No influence of age or BMI on the relationship between DEXA and BIA results was observed. Differences were observed between DEXA and BIA measurements of both fat and fat-free tissue. The results suggest that DEXA may underestimate the LBM and overestimate body fat compared with BIA, probably due to different assumptions about the constants.
Conclusions: We conclude that both methods are suitable for body composition studies.

Keywords: dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA),, bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), Body Composition

Add Comment 0 Comments

987 208

Editorial

01 December 2023 : Editorial  

Editorial: Outbreaks of Post-Pandemic Childhood Pneumonia and the Re-Emergence of Endemic Respiratory Infections

Dinah V. Parums

DOI: 10.12659/MSM.943312

Med Sci Monit 2023; 29:e943312

0:00

In Press

01 Dec 2023 : Clinical Research  

Risk Factors and Clinical Outcomes of COVID-19 Infection in Multiple Sclerosis Patients: A Retrospective St...

Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI:  

30 Nov 2023 : Review article  

Decoding the Neurological Sequelae of General Anesthesia: A Review

Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI:  

30 Nov 2023 : Clinical Research  

Enhanced Pain Relief and Muscle Growth in Individuals with Low Back Instability: The Impact of Blood Flow R...

Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI:  

29 Nov 2023 : Clinical Research  

Comparative Analysis of Intramedullary Nail versus Plate Fixation for Fibula Fracture in Supination Externa...

Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI:  

Most Viewed Current Articles

13 Nov 2021 : Clinical Research  

Acceptance of COVID-19 Vaccination and Its Associated Factors Among Cancer Patients Attending the Oncology ...

DOI :10.12659/MSM.932788

Med Sci Monit 2021; 27:e932788

0:00

30 Dec 2021 : Clinical Research  

Retrospective Study of Outcomes and Hospitalization Rates of Patients in Italy with a Confirmed Diagnosis o...

DOI :10.12659/MSM.935379

Med Sci Monit 2021; 27:e935379

0:00

14 Dec 2022 : Clinical Research  

Prevalence and Variability of Allergen-Specific Immunoglobulin E in Patients with Elevated Tryptase Levels

DOI :10.12659/MSM.937990

Med Sci Monit 2022; 28:e937990

0:00

08 Mar 2022 : Review article  

A Review of the Potential Roles of Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Pharmacological Approaches for the Man...

DOI :10.12659/MSM.936292

Med Sci Monit 2022; 28:e936292

0:00

Your Privacy

We use cookies to ensure the functionality of our website, to personalize content and advertising, to provide social media features, and to analyze our traffic. If you allow us to do so, we also inform our social media, advertising and analysis partners about your use of our website, You can decise for yourself which categories you you want to deny or allow. Please note that based on your settings not all functionalities of the site are available. View our privacy policy.

Medical Science Monitor eISSN: 1643-3750
Medical Science Monitor eISSN: 1643-3750