title: Bioimpedance analysis: a useful technique for assessing appendicular lean soft tissue mass and distribution.
abstract: The present study was aimed at evaluating the feasibility and reliability of lower limb skeletal muscle (SM) mass estimates obtained by bioimpedance analysis (BIA). BIA estimates were compared with the estimates obtained by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Ten normal weight and 10 obese women had BIA and DXA evaluations. Lower limb SM mass was then derived from DXA appendicular lean soft tissue estimates. Lower limb SM mass and SM distribution were also estimated from BIA modeling that fits measured resistance values along the leg. SM mass (mean +/- SD) was 5.8 +/- 1.0 kg by BIA vs. 5.8 +/- 1.1 kg by DXA in normal weight subjects and 7.2 +/- 1.4 kg by BIA vs. 7.2 +/- 1.2 kg by DXA in obese subjects. Mean +/- SD of the absolute value of the relative error was 7.0 +/- 3.4 and 5.9 +/- 3.4% in the two groups, respectively. Similar results were obtained by using five resistance values for the analysis. In conclusion, the proposed BIA model provides an adequate means of evaluating appendicular SM mass.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Informatica e Sistemistica, Università di Roma "La Sapienza," 00184 Roma, Italy. salinari@dis.uniroma1.it
authors.forename: Serenella
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Salinari
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bertuzzi
authors.forename: Geltrude
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mingrone
authors.forename: Esmeralda
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Capristo
authors.forename: Antonino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scarfone
authors.forename: Aldo V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Greco
authors.forename: Steven B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Heymsfield
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D019412:Anatomy, Cross-Sectional; D001823:Body Composition; D017097:Electric Impedance; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D009765:Obesity / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results