Performance of Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis in the Estimation of Bone Mineral Content in Healthy Children Aged 6-12 Years

Li-Wen Lee; Yu-San Liao; Hsueh-Kuan Lu; Kuen-Chang Hsieh; Ching-Chi Chi

doi:10.1016/j.jocd.2019.03.002

Performance of Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis in the Estimation of Bone Mineral Content in Healthy Children Aged 6-12 Years

J Clin Densitom. 2020 Jul-Sep;23(3):411-417. doi: 10.1016/j.jocd.2019.03.002. Epub 2019 Mar 15.

Authors

Li-Wen Lee¹, Yu-San Liao², Hsueh-Kuan Lu³, Kuen-Chang Hsieh⁴, Ching-Chi Chi⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi, Taiwan; Department of Nursing, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Chiayi Campus, Taiwan.
² Department of Nursing, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Chiayi Campus, Taiwan; Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Yunlin, Taiwan.
³ Sport Science Research Center, National Taiwan University of Sport, Taichung, Taiwan.
⁴ Office of Physical Education and Sport, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan; Research Center, Charder Electronic Co, Ltd, Taichung, Taiwan.
⁵ Department of Dermatology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan; College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan. Electronic address: chingchi@cgmh.org.tw.

PMID: 30979543
DOI: 10.1016/j.jocd.2019.03.002

Abstract

Background: Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is a widely available tool which provides mineral estimate. However, BIA is not currently recognized as a bone mineral measuring method. This study aimed to explore the ability of BIA to predict bone mineral content (BMC) in children, using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry as a gold standard.

Methods: Healthy children aged 6-12 years (n = 176) were recruited for BIA and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry measurements. Predictive models were generated using basic indices (age, height, weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, etc.) and BIA parameters (minerals, fat mass, and fat free mass).

Results: The root-mean-square deviation and R² for the total BMC predictive model were 0.089 kg and 0.926, respectively using height and weight as predictors whereas 0.113 kg and 0.886, respectively using minerals by BIA. The root-mean-square deviation and R² for the subtotal BMC predictive model were 0.080 kg and 0.935, respectively using height and weight as predictors whereas 0.098 kg and 0.906, respectively using minerals by BIA. The best predictive models included basic indices and BIA parameters as predictors, but they had only slightly better performance over simple models.

Conclusions: Mineral content by BIA was good predictor of total and subtotal BMC in healthy children but with similar overall model performance compared to basic indices. More complex models combined all the predictive variables gave better prediction power, but of little improvement to these simple models. The BIA instrument does not appear to be useful in estimating BMC in healthy children as basic indices are more widely available measures but provide comparable performance. Future studies are needed to determine the clinical usefulness of the more complex prediction model in children with disease or children in other subgroups.

Keywords: Bioelectrical impedance analysis; bone mineral content; children; dual-Energy X-ray absorptiometry scan.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Absorptiometry, Photon*
Bone Density*
Child
Electric Impedance*
Female
Healthy Volunteers
Humans
Male