Bioimpedance analysis of body composition in an international twin cohort.
OBJECTIVE
Multiple twin studies have demonstrated the heritability of anthropometric and metabolic traits. However, assessment of body composition parameters by bioimpedance analysis (BIA) has not been routinely performed in this setting.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Study subjects were recruited and assessed at twin festivals or at major university hospitals in Italy, Hungary, and the United States to estimate the influence of genetic and environmental components on body composition parameters in a large, wide age range, international twin cohort by using bioelectrical impedance analysis.


METHODS
380 adult twin pairs (230 monozygotic and 150 dizygotic pairs; male:female ratio, 68:32; age years 49.1 ± 15.4; mean ± standard deviation; age range 18-82) were included in the analysis.


RESULTS
Heritability was calculated for weight (82%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 78-85), waist and hip circumferences (74%; 95%CI: 68-79), body fat percentage (74%; 95%CI: 69-79), fat-free mass (74%; 95%CI: 69-79) and body mass index (79%; 95%CI: 74-83). The completely environmental model showed no impact of shared environmental effects on the variance, while unshared environmental effects were estimated as between 18% and 26%.


CONCLUSIONS
BIA findings provide additional evidence to the heritability of anthropometric attributes related to obesity and indicate the practical value of this simple method in supporting efforts to prevent obesity-related adverse health events.
Department of Radiology and Oncotherapy, Semmelweis University, 78/a Ulloi Street, Budapest 1082, Hungary. Electronic address:tarnoki4@gmail.com.
Adam D
AD
Tarnoki
Department of Radiology and Oncotherapy, Semmelweis University, 78/a Ulloi Street, Budapest 1082, Hungary.
David L
DL
Tarnoki
Genetic Epidemiology Unit, Istituto Superiore di SanitÃ , Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy.
Emanuela
E
Medda
Genetic Epidemiology Unit, Istituto Superiore di SanitÃ , Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy.
Rodolfo
R
Cotichini
Genetic Epidemiology Unit, Istituto Superiore di SanitÃ , Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy.
Maria A
MA
Stazi
Genetic Epidemiology Unit, Istituto Superiore di SanitÃ , Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy.
Corrado
C
Fagnani
Genetic Epidemiology Unit, Istituto Superiore di SanitÃ , Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy.
Lorenza
L
NisticÃ
Vascular and Interventional Radiology Unit, Department of Radiological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, viale Regina Elena 324,00162 Rome.
Pierleone
P
Lucatelli
Vascular and Interventional Radiology Unit, Department of Radiological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, viale Regina Elena 324,00162 Rome.
Emanuele
E
Boatta
Vascular and Interventional Radiology Unit, Department of Radiological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, viale Regina Elena 324,00162 Rome.
Chiara
C
Zini
Vascular and Interventional Radiology Unit, Department of Radiological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, viale Regina Elena 324,00162 Rome.
Fabrizio
F
Fanelli
Department of Neurosciences, University of Padua School of Medicine, via Giustiniani 5, 35128 Padova, Italy.
Claudio
C
Baracchini
Department of Neurosciences, University of Padua School of Medicine, via Giustiniani 5, 35128 Padova, Italy.
Giorgio
G
Meneghetti
UniversitÃ  degli Studi di Perugia, UnitÃ  di Medicina Interna, Ospedale â??S. Mariaâ??, viale Tristano di Joannuccio 1, 05100 Terni, Italy.
Giuseppe
G
Schillaci
Bajcsy Zsilinszky Hospital, III Department of Internal Medicine, 89-91 Maglodi Street, Budapest 1106, Hungary.
Janos
J
Osztovits
Bajcsy Zsilinszky Hospital, III Department of Internal Medicine, 89-91 Maglodi Street, Budapest 1106, Hungary.
Gyorgy
G
Jermendy
Department of Cardiology, Military Hospital â?? State Health Centre, 44 RÃ³bert KÃ¡roly krt, Budapest 1134, Hungary.
Rã Bert G
RB
Kiss
Department of Cardiology, Military Hospital â?? State Health Centre, 44 RÃ³bert KÃ¡roly krt, Budapest 1134, Hungary.
IstvÃ N
IN
PrÃ da
Department of Radiology and Oncotherapy, Semmelweis University, 78/a Ulloi Street, Budapest 1082, Hungary.
Kinga
K
Karlinger
Semmelweis University, School of Pharmacy, 26 Ulloi Street, Budapest 1085, Hungary.
Agnes
A
Lannert
National Institute for Health Development, 2 NagyvÃ¡rad tÃ©r, Budapest, 1096, Hungary.
Julia
J
Metneki
Department of Cardiology, Military Hospital â?? State Health Centre, 44 RÃ³bert KÃ¡roly krt, Budapest 1134, Hungary.
Andrea A
AA
Molnar
The Methodist Hospital, DeBakey Heart and Vascular Center, 6565 Fannin Street, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
Zsolt
Z
Garami
Department of Radiology and Oncotherapy, Semmelweis University, 78/a Ulloi Street, Budapest 1082, Hungary.
Viktor
V
Berczi
Department of Medicine, VA Boston Healthcare System, Harvard Medical School, 150 South Huntington Avenue, Jamaica Plain, Boston, MA 02130, USA.
Ildiko
I
Halasz
Department of Medicine, VA Boston Healthcare System, Harvard Medical School, 150 South Huntington Avenue, Jamaica Plain, Boston, MA 02130, USA.
Gyorgy
G
Baffy
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D017097:Electric Impedance; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008957:Models, Genetic; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D014427:Twins / Q000235:genetics; D014481:United States