Body composition in urban South Asian women; development of a bioelectrical impedance analysis prediction equation
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Published on: June 30, 2023
Indu Waidyatilaka1, Pulani Lanerolle, Maduka de Lanerolle-Dias
1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Kinsey Road, Colombo 8, Sri Lanka.
Background:
Assessment of body composition plays a significant role in combating chronic disease among South Asians. Accurate assessment of body composition by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) requires population-specific equations which are currently unavailable for urban South Asian women.
Aim:
To assess validity of direct BIA assessment and selected equations for prediction of total body water (TBW), against Deuterium ((2)H2O) dilution and develop and validate a population-specific TBW equation for urban South Asian women.
Subjects And Method:
Data of 80 urban Sri Lankan women (30-45 years) were used for this analysis. Body composition was assessed by (2)H2O dilution (reference) and BIA. Available BIA equations were assessed for validity. A new TBW equation was generated and validated.
Results:
Direct BIA measurements and other equations did not meet validation criteria in predicting TBW. TBW by the new equation (TBW = 3.443 + 0.342 × (height(2)/impedance) + 0.176 × weight) correlated (p < 0.001) with TBW by reference method. TBW using the new equation was not significantly different (25.30 ± 2.4 kg) from the reference (25.32 ± 2.7 kg).
Conclusion:
Direct use of TBW by instrument and existing equations are less suitable for this population. The new TBW equation is suitable for body composition assessment in urban South Asian women.
