Determination of body composition—a comparison of dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and hydrodensitometry

• Published in: The American journal of clinical nutrition Vol. 57; no. 3; pp. 323 - 326
• Main Authors: Johansson, A.G, Forslund, A, Sjodin, A, Mallmin, H, Hambraeus, L, Ljunghall, S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda, MD Elsevier Inc 01.03.1993; American Society for Clinical Nutrition; American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc
• Subjects: Absorptiometry, Photon; Adult; AGUA; BALANCE; balances; BALANZA; bioelectric potential; Biological and medical sciences; Body Composition; body fat; Body Weight; bone density; bone mineral density; CONTENIDO DE CENIZA; DENSIDAD; DENSITE; dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry; EAU; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; HOMBRES; HOMME; HUESOS; Humans; Immersion; impedance; Male; Medical research; MEDICION DEL CUERPO; Men; MENSURATION CORPORELLE; Middle Aged; Oils & fats; POTENCIAL ELECTRICO; POTENTIEL ELECTRIQUE; PROPIEDADES FISICO-QUIMICAS; PROPRIETE PHYSICOCHIMIQUE; RAYON X; RAYOS-X; skinfold thickness; TEJIDO ADIPOSO; TENEUR EN CENDRES; TISSU ADIPEUX; underwater weighing; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; water; Weights & measures; X-radiation; bone mineral density; underwater weighing; dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry; Body composition; body fat; Human; Nuclear energy; X ray absorption spectrometry; Grease; Underwater; Densitometry; Technique; Comparative study
• ISSN: 0002-9165; 1938-3207
• DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/57.3.323

Determination of body composition by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) was evaluated in healthy men, by using underwater weighing (UWW), skinfold thickness measurement, and bioimpedance analysis. There were strong correlations between percent body fat obtained by all techniques, but DEXA gave significantly lower values (P < 0.001). The influence of differences in bone mineral density (BMD) on fat content determined by UWW was also studied. The individual differences between UWW and DEXA fat estimates were calculated and there was a negative correlation with BMD (r = −0.50, P < 0.05). There was also a negative correlation between body fat by UWW and BMD (r = −0.71, P < 0.01) in the subjects with lowest fat by DEXA, indicating that high or low BMD gave false values by UWW. In conclusion, DEXA and UWW provide complementary information and a combination of these techniques seems to offer new opportunities in evaluations of body composition.