Body composition in adolescents: estimation by total body electrical conductivity.
This comparative study, conducted on 28 boys and girls of widely varying fatness, was designed to validate a new whole-body composition method [total body electrical conductivity (TOBEC)], based on bioelectrical properties of the human body. A significant correlation [r = 0.911; standard error of the estimate (SEE) = 5.3 kg] was demonstrated between the transformed TOBEC scores (TOBEC0.5 X Ht) and lean body mass (LBM) determined by hydrodensitometry and corrected for individual variations in hydration (LBMd + W). TOBEC determinations also correlated well with 1) total body water determined by deuterium oxide dilution (r = 0.877; SEE = 4.5 liters), 2) total body potassium determined by means of a 4 pi whole-body counter (r = 0.860; SEE = 430.7 meq), 3) LBM derived from skinfold thicknesses (r = 0.850; SEE = 5.8 kg). The residuals of the regression between LBMd + W and TOBEC scores did not show any significant correlation with either the potassium or the water content of the LBM. The results indicate that TOBEC is a simple, rapid, reliable, and noninvasive technique for delineating changes in body composition that occur in children during growth.
Presta
E
E
Department of Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York 10025.
Casullo
A M
AM
Costa
R
R
Slonim
A
A
Van Itallie
T B
TB
D000293:Adolescent; D001823:Body Composition; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012044:Regression Analysis