Assessment of change in hydration in women during pregnancy and postpartum with bioelectrical impedance vectors.
OBJECTIVE
This study tested the hypothesis that bioelectrical impedance vectors, group and individual, are valid indicators of total body water (TBW) and hydration status in women experiencing fluid gain and loss during and after pregnancy.


METHODS
We measured TBW, assessed with D(2)O dilution, and resistance (R) and reactance (Xc), determined with 800 microA at 50 kHz and standardized for height (H) and plotted on a bivariate (R-Xc) graph, in 15 women, 21-37 y of age, longitudinally before and during pregnancy and postpartum (PP).


RESULTS
Body weight (61.9 +/- 2.3 to 75.5 +/- 2.3 kg) and TBW (31.4 +/- 1.1 to 38.2 +/- 1.1 L) increased (P < 0.05) from before pregnancy to the third trimester of pregnancy and decreased PP (67.0 +/- 2.3 kg and 32.7 +/- 1.1 L, P < 0.05). R/H and Xc/H decreased during pregnancy (P < 0.05, 361 +/- 10 to 318 +/- 10 and 44 +/- 1 to 36 +/- 1 omega/m, respectively) and increased PP (P < 0.05, 355 +/- 10 and 41 +/- 1 Omega/m). Vector length decreased (P < 0.05, 363 +/- 10 to 320 +/- 10 Omega) during pregnancy and increased PP (P < 0.05, 357 +/- 10 Omega). Changes in vector length and TBW during pregnancy and PP were correlated (r = -0.599, P < 0.001). Women with vectors exceeding a 75% tolerance interval had greater TBW gain (10-12 versus 5-6 L) during pregnancy compared with other women with vectors within this tolerance level.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings indicate that impedance vectors provide quantitative evidence of hydration status during pregnancy and that the impedance vector method is useful in monitoring hydration status in pregnancy.
Lukaski
Henry C
HC
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center, Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA. Henry.Lukaski@ARS.USDA.GOV
Hall
Clinton B
CB
Siders
William A
WA
D000328:Adult; D001834:Body Water / Q000378:metabolism*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D017666:Deuterium Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D017097:Electric Impedance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000502:physiology*; D011865:Radioisotope Dilution Technique; D014882:Water-Electrolyte Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D015430:Weight Gain
D017666:Deuterium Oxide