Title of article:

Comparison of Leg-to-Leg Bioimpedance (BIA) System with Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (DXA) in an Elderly Cohort

Authors: Rubiano F, Nuñez C, Gallagher D, Heymsfield SB.
Poster presented at: Experimental Biology 1999.

Abstract

Objective: Prior studies support the use of BIA in assessing healthy adult body composition. As there are recognized age-related body composition and physiological changes that alter tissue conduction, concern arises for BIA validity in the elderly. The present study evaluated the validity of a leg-to-leg contact electrode BIA system (TBF 305, Tanita Corp., Tokyo, Japan) in an elderly cohort by comparing BIA fat estimates with those by DXA.
Design: There were 74 subjects with mean age 64 yrs. and BMI (26.6±4.8 kg/m2) who successfully completed protocol.
Results: The mean %fat estimates by BIA (32.8±9.5) and DXA (33.7±9.9) were not significantly different (p=0.58). Linear regression demonstrated a high correlation between BIA and DXA fat estimates (r=0.90, p<0.001, SEE=4.4). The slope and intercept of the regression line were not significantly different from 1 and zero, respectively. These results suggest that the leg-to-leg BIA system reliably predicts body fat in elderly subjects.

Impedance vs DEXA

Comments and Key points

Bio-electrical impedance methods, using a Tanita body fat scale, had equivalent results to Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), in elderly adults , with no significant difference.

 

References

  1. http://www.tanita.com/professional/abstracts/abstract_main.html

Review & comments by Steven B. Halls, MD, Last edited 26-May-2008 Copyright.

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