Assessing total body protein, mineral, and bone mineral content from total body water and body density

We hypothesized that investigators could assess bone mineral content (BMC), total body mineral (M), and protein (P) from body water (W) and density (DB) based on the theory of W. E. Siri (Advances in Biological and Medical Physics, 1956, p. 239-280 and Techniques for Measuring Body Composition, 1961, p. 223-224) for body composition analysis. Siri used one or more of the body components and the densities of the body, fat (F), W, M, and P to estimate one of the remaining fractional masses. We compared M, BMC, P. F, and fat-free mass (FFM) in 31 subjects (15 women and 16 men) computed from measurements of W and DB with [4-compartment (4C) model] and without [3-compartment (3C) model] BMC (from dual X-ray absorptiometry). 4C model P was calculated by difference (P = FFM - W - M). Mean difference (P > 0.05) ranged from 0.1 to 0.8%. Correlations [+/- standard error of estimate (%)] between 4C and 3C model values were significant (r = 0.907 +/- 8.8, 0.907 +/- 8.7, 0.969 +/- 6.6, 0.998 +/- 2.0, and 0.999 +/- 0.7% for M, BMC, P, F, and FFM, respectively). We concluded that investigators can assess M, BMC, and P from W and DB.