Bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy in growth hormone-deficient adults

This study evaluated water compartment assessment by bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy (BIS) by Xitron 4000B in 164 growth hormone-deficient adults on growth hormone replacement therapy, examined the assumed constant body density and gender-specific resistivities in BIS methodology and evaluated a published BMI-adjusted BIS equation. Body composition was measured by BIS, total body potassium (TBK), tritium dilution and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Tritium dilution and TBK were combined to a reference method for water compartments. Average difference for total body water (TBW) by tritium dilution and by BIS was 0.6 l in women (p > 0.05) and -0.2 l in men (p > 0.05). Average extracellular water (ECW) by the reference method and by BIS differed 1.5 l in women (p < 0.05) and 1.2 l in men (p < 0.05). Average intracellular water (ICW) by the reference method and by BIS differed -0.9 l in women (p < 0.05) and -1.3 l in men (p < 0.05). However, average ECW and ICW could be successfully estimated by BIS with use of unisex resistivity constants that were derived from this population, although with large individual variation. Average individual body density was lower than assumed. Application of individual body density did not improve agreement between methods. BMI-adjusted equations were not fully accurate in this population.