Estimating body composition in late gestation: a new hydration constant for body density and total body water

Twenty women underwent body density (DB) measurements using underwater weighing with correction of residual lung volume by nitrogen dilution and total body water (TBW) using isotope dilution of 18O to estimate body composition at 30 wk of gestation. DB and TBW were used as independent variables in the same equation. The hydration constant (HC) of fat-free mass (FFM) was estimated as 0.762; based on this HC, new body composition equations for both DB and TBW were derived. These equations were prospectively tested in an additional 20 women at 30 wk of gestation. No significant differences were detected between estimates of percent body fat (%F) using either the newly derived DB or TBW equations and estimates of %F using both DB and TBW. Ten of these forty women were evaluated postpartum. There was no significant difference in %F estimated by either TBW or DB compared with standard equations (hydration of FFM = 0.72) and %F using both DB and TBW. These results highlight the importance of either measuring both DB and TBW or using an appropriate hydration constant for FFM in estimating body composition during pregnancy or conditions associated with increased body water.