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Body water distribution in highlanders versus lowlanders
G Bedogni1, N Battistini, S Severi
1Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine & Surgery, Modena University, Italy.
Annals of Human Biology
|December 13, 1997
Summary
Highlanders (HL) and lowlanders (LL) show similar body water distribution. This study found no significant differences in total body water (TBW) or extracellular water (ECW) between matched HL and LL groups.
Area of Science:
- Physiology
- Environmental Health
- Human Adaptation
Background:
- High altitude exposure alters body water distribution.
- Acclimatized individuals may be protected from these changes.
- Previous suggestions indicate potential differences in body water distribution between highlanders and lowlanders.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate and compare the distribution of total body water (TBW) between extracellular water (ECW) and intracellular water (ICW) in highlanders (HL) and lowlanders (LL).
- To test the hypothesis that body water distribution differs between native highlanders and lowlanders.
Main Methods:
- Study involved 20 matched highlanders (HL) residing at 3200 m and 20 matched lowlanders (LL) residing at 900 m.
- Subjects were matched for ethnic group (Kirghiz), sex (male), weight, height, and body mass index.
- Distribution of TBW into ECW and ICW was assessed.
Main Results:
- No significant differences were found in the ratio of total body water to weight (TBW:Wt) between HL and LL (58.5 +/- 5.0% vs 56.0 +/- 4.2%).
- No significant differences were observed in the ratio of extracellular water to total body water (ECW:TBW) between HL and LL (40.5 +/- 4.2% vs 40.7 +/- 2.2%).
Conclusions:
- The findings do not support the hypothesis that body water distribution is inherently different in highlanders compared to lowlanders.
- This study suggests that matched highlanders and lowlanders exhibit similar patterns of body water compartmentalization.