Body composition of Chinese compared with data from North America

A multiple tracer dilution method measuring total body water (TBW) and extra cellular water (ECW) was used to study body composition. Healthy Chinese were compared to a group of healthy Americans evaluated by similar dilutional methods. Compared to the American subjects, Chinese subjects were less heavy (body weight was 62.1 ± 2.0 kg vs 72.5± 4. 1, P<0.05), leaner (body fat was 19.6 ± 1.8% of body weight vs 25.8 ± 1.9, P<0.005), wetter (total body water was 58.9 ± 1.3% vs 54.3 ± 1.4, P<0.005) and had a greater percentage of body cell mass (50.9 ± 1.7% vs 44.2 ± 1.4, P<0.001). The multidilution method using deuterium oxide and sodium bromide to assess body composition is accurate but expensive and laborious. Therefore, equally precise but more economical bedside methods are needed for routine compositional analysis.