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Body composition and aging: a study by in vivo neutron activation analysis
S B Heymsfield1, Z Wang, R N Baumgartner
1Department of Medicine, St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital, Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10025.
The Journal of Nutrition
|February 1, 1993
Summary
Neutron activation analysis allows in vivo measurement of six key elements in the human body. This method aids in understanding body composition changes with aging, particularly in the elderly.
Area of Science:
- Human Physiology
- Biophysics
- Nuclear Medicine
Background:
- Human body composition is complex, spanning atomic to whole-body levels.
- Understanding elemental and chemical composition in vivo is crucial for health research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the neutron-activation approach for in vivo chemical compartment evaluation.
- To demonstrate the utility of in vivo chemical composition data in validating body fat estimation methods in the elderly.
Main Methods:
- Direct in vivo measurement of six elements (C, N, Ca, K, Na, Cl) using neutron-activation systems.
- Quantification of major molecular components by combining elemental data with total body water estimates.
Main Results:
- Neutron activation analysis enables direct in vivo quantification of key human elements.
- This technique can assess the accuracy of indirect body fat measurement methods in older adults.
Conclusions:
- Neutron activation analysis offers a powerful tool for studying human in vivo elemental and chemical composition.
- This approach is valuable for investigating the relationship between aging and changes in body composition.