title: Simplified body-composition analysis using deuterium dilution and deuteron photodisintegration.
abstract: A number of approaches to estimating human body composition (water, lean mass, and fat) are available, and each approach has its own limitations. Deuterium dilution is a comparatively safe and valid procedure for assessing body composition; however, its use has been restricted by the relative complexity of measuring deuterium at low concentrations. A simplified scheme for quantifying low levels of deuterium in body fluid samples promises to expand the use of D2O in body composition studies. The deuterons are quantified by measuring the neutron emission induced by gamma-ray irradiation from 228Th(2.61 MeV). The in vitro aspects of the procedure exhibit coefficients of variation of under 1% throughout the range of assay and near 100% recovery of added D2O. In vivo comparison studies with a reference tritium dilution procedure indicate close agreement in a group of 38 subjects. The chief advantages of the procedure are a small oral dose of D2O and the use of either serum or urine samples. The physical condition of the sample does not affect the measurement so distillation is not required. Thus, small medical facilities can enjoy the advantages of low cost, minimum patient inconvenience, and technical simplicity by submitting subject samples to larger agencies for analysis.
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue; D001823:Body Composition; D001834:Body Water / Q000032:analysis; D003903:Deuterium; D006801:Humans; D006859:Hydrogen; D007201:Indicator Dilution Techniques
chemical_list: D006859:Hydrogen; D003903:Deuterium