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Updated: Jun 20, 2026

Evaluation of Fluid Overload by Bioelectrical Impedance Vectorial Analysis
Published on: August 17, 2022
The bioelectrical impedance vector migration in healthy infants
Carianne L'Abée1, Petra H Poorts-Borger, Erna H G M Gorter
1Department of Pediatrics, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, The Netherlands. c.abee@bkk.umcg.nl
Insights
Bioelectrical impedance vector analysis reveals significant changes in infant body composition during the first year of life. New reference intervals for two-month-old infants provide valuable insights for monitoring healthy growth and preventing childhood obesity.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric physiology
- Biomedical engineering
- Body composition analysis
Background:
- Early detection of excess body fat in children is crucial for preventing obesity.
- Bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA) offers insights into body hydration and soft tissue mass.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate bioelectrical impedance vector analysis in healthy infants.
- To establish reference intervals for BIVA parameters in infants.
Main Methods:
- Utilized 50kHz frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis for repeated measurements of reactance and resistance in 113 infants (51 boys, 62 girls).
- Performed bivariate vector analysis, standardizing resistance (R) and reactance (Xc) by height (H).
- Plotted 95% confidence intervals and 50%, 75%, and 95% tolerance intervals for impedance vectors across different infant age groups.
Main Results:
- Observed significant vector migration during infancy, with notable changes in Xc/H (8.50 ohm/m) and R/H (-95.68 ohm/m) between two months and 8–12 months (p=0.0001).
- Presented bivariate reference tolerance intervals for impedance vectors specific to healthy two-month-old infants.
Conclusions:
- Demonstrated significant impedance vector migration throughout the first year of life in healthy infants.
- Developed new reference tolerance intervals for the second month of life, aiding in infant body composition assessment.
Background & Aims:
Detecting young children with high amount of body fat is important to intervene in the development of obesity. The aim of this study is to gain inside in the bioelectrical impedance vector analysis in healthy infants.
Methods:
Repeated measurements of whole body reactance and resistance were assessed, using a 50kHz frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis, in 51 boys and 62 girls during infancy. Bivariate vector analysis, which can be used to determine tissue hydration and soft tissue mass, was conducted. The 95% confidence intervals of the mean vectors for different age groups and the 95%, 75% and 50% tolerance intervals were plotted, using resistance and reactance components standardized by the participant's height.
Results:
During infancy impedance vectors changed significantly: A vector migration of the Xc/H of 8.50ohm/m and the R/H of -95.68ohm/m between the age of two months and eight to twelve months (p=0.0001) was observed. Bivariate, reference tolerance intervals of the impedance vectors for healthy infants at the age of two months are presented.
Conclusion:
Our results show a significant impedance vector migration during the first year of life. New reference tolerance intervals for the second month of life were constructed.
