Body composition assessment in athletes with spinal cord injury: comparison of field methods with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.
METHODS
Cross-sectional.


OBJECTIVE
To compare relative body fatness (%Fat) estimates from field methods (skinfold thickness measurement (SKF) and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA)) with measures by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA).


METHODS
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL, USA.


METHODS
Field methods used both three- and seven-site SKF prediction equations and BIA generalized, spinal cord injury (SCI)-specific and athlete-specific equations. DXA was used as the reference method. College-aged varsity athletes with SCI (women=8, men=8; time since injury 16.2+/-5.7 years; injury level range T5-L5) were recruited.


RESULTS
Mean BMI was 20.8+/-2.6 and 22.5+/-2.1 kg m(-2), and mean DXA %Fat was 31.9+/-3.8 and 20.6+/-8.4%, for women and men, respectively. All field methods under-predicted the %Fat when compared with DXA (ranges in mean differences: SKF women 2.9-8.2%, SKF men 6.9-12.4%; BIA women 0.5-3.9%, BIA men 0.3-7.0%). None of the field methods accurately predicted the %Fat compared with DXA (total error (TE): SKF women 7.4-12.1%, SKF men 8.4-15.2%; BIA women 5.1-9.3%, BIA men 6.7-10.7%). Of the SKF and BIA prediction equations, Evans et al.'s three-site SKF (r=0.95, P<0.001, standard error of the estimate (SEE)=2.8 %Fat) prediction equation provided the best fit for this population.


CONCLUSIONS
Further studies with larger samples are necessary to develop appropriate prediction equations for field methods in the athletic SCI population.
Mojtahedi
M C
MC
Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
Valentine
R J
RJ
Evans
E M
EM
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon / Q000379:methods*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods*; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000150:complications; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology*; D017097:Electric Impedance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors; D012885:Skinfold Thickness; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D013177:Sports; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D055815:Young Adult