Total Body Water (TBW) for Body Composition Assessment in Young Adult Females from Colombia

摘要

The study compared TBW derived from BIA, TBW derived from Watson (1980) anthropometrics formula with TBW from the gold standard, deuterium oxide dilution method in healthy Colombian young females. The purpose was to determine whether either or both of these clinic based measurement methods would allow for the accurate assessment of body composition. Subjects underwent multi-frequency BIA measurements, on the dominant side of the body, using an 800-μA and 50-kHz alternating current with a standardized tetrapolar technique. The BIA variables measured were R50 and Xc50. The results show that TBW by anthropometry had a moderate coefficient of determination (r~2) and was not statistically different from TBW by D20, however, the CI were wider than 2 standard deviations (SD). On the other hand, TBW by BIA had a better determination coefficient but was statistically different from TBW by D20 and also had wide CI. Both methods underestimated TBW. In conclusion, the present study suggests that BIA equations even when adapted to the specific population for the estimation of TBW should be used with caution within a specific population in order to assess individual differences. Anthropometric equations alone should also be interpreted wisely along with the clinic.