title: Chemical determination of human body density in vivo: relevance to hydrodensitometry.
abstract: A chemical approach to establishing human body density in vivo was developed by combining recently developed noninvasive methods. Four compartments were measured: protein (P; prompt-gamma neutron activation), water (A; 3H2O dilution), mineral (M; dual-photon absorptiometry and delayed-gamma neutron activation), and fat (F; dual-photon absorptiometry). By this model body weight is equal to P + A + M + F. This approach was applied to 13 healthy adults (8 females and 5 males). The four compartments accounted for greater than 97% actual body weight. Calculated density based upon composition agreed within 0.6 +/- 0.4% (mean +/- SD) with density (D) measured by hydrodensitometry [calculated D (g/cc) = 0.86 measured D +0.15; r = 0.94, p less than 0.001]. The average calculated lean (P + A + M) density of 1.096 +/- 0.007 g/cc agreed closely with three classic human cadaver studies (1.100 g/cc). This multicompartment approach provides a new opportunity to estimate human body density in vivo and to refine body composition methods based upon an assumed but inadequately validated constant lean density.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, St Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York.
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Heymsfield
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kehayias
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Heshka
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lichtman
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Pierson
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000273:Adipose Tissue; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001823:Body Composition; D001834:Body Water / Q000032:analysis; D003720:Densitometry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008903:Minerals / Q000032:analysis; D009501:Neutron Activation Analysis; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D008903:Minerals; D011506:Proteins