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Between-laboratory comparison of densitometry and bio-electrical impedance measurements

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 March 2008

Paul Deurenberg ,
Klaas R. Westerterp  and
Erica J. M. Velthuis-Te Wierik
Paul Deurenberg
Affiliation:
Department of Human Nutrition, Wageningen Agricultural University, Bomenweg 2, 6703 HD Wageningen, The Netherlands
Klaas R. Westerterp
Affiliation:
Department of Human Biology, University of Limburg, PO Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
Erica J. M. Velthuis-Te Wierik
Affiliation:
TNO-Toxicology and Nutrition Institute, PO Box 360, 3700 AJ Zeist, The Netherlands
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Abstract

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Body composition was measured in nine healthy, normal-weight, weight-stable subjects in three different research centres. In each centre the usual procedures for the measurements were followed. It revealed that the measurement procedures in the three centres were comparable. Body composition was measured in each centre between 09.00 and 13.00 hours after a light breakfast by densitometry (underwater weighing) and bio-electrical impedance. A single, total-body-water determination by D2O dilution was used as a reference value. Body fat determined by densitometry was significantly lower in one centre, which, however, could be completely explained by a lower body weight, probably due to water loss (the subjects refrained for a longer time from food and drinks before the measurements in that centre) and, thus, by violation of the assumptions of Siri's (1961) formula. Also, body impedance was slightly higher in that centre, indicating a lower amount of body water. Mean body fat from densitometry was also slightly lower in that centre compared with body fat determined by D2O dilution. Individual differences between body fat from densitometry and from total body water were relatively large, up to 7% body fat. The relationship between fat-free mass from densitometry and bio-electrical impedance was not different between the centres. It is concluded that differences in the relationship between body composition and bio-electrical impedance, as reported in the literature, may be due to differences in standardization procedures and/or differences in reference population.

Keywords

Body compositionDensitometryBio-electrical impedance

Information

Type
Comparison of methods for measuring body composition
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 71 , Issue 3 , March 1994 , pp. 309 - 316
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 1994

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