Comparison of Bioelectrical Impedance Indices for Skeletal Muscle Mass and Intracellular Water Measurements of Physically Active Young Men and Athletes

Hiroyuki Sagayama; Emi Kondo; Yoko Tanabe; Akiko Uchizawa; William J Evans; Mahalakshmi Shankaran; Edna Nyangau; Marc Hellerstein; Keisuke Shiose; Tsukasa Yoshida; Jun Yasukata; Yasuki Higaki; Takahiro Ohnishi; Hideyuki Takahashi; Yosuke Yamada

doi:10.1016/j.tjnut.2023.07.010

Comparison of Bioelectrical Impedance Indices for Skeletal Muscle Mass and Intracellular Water Measurements of Physically Active Young Men and Athletes

J Nutr. 2023 Sep;153(9):2543-2551. doi: 10.1016/j.tjnut.2023.07.010. Epub 2023 Jul 24.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan. Electronic address: sagayama.hiroyuki.ka@u.tsukuba.ac.jp.
² Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan; Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Kojimachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
³ Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Kojimachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan; Faculty of Human Life Design, Toyo University, Akabanedai, Kita-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
⁴ Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Kojimachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan; Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Science, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
⁵ Department of Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, United States; Division of Geriatrics, Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States.
⁶ Department of Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, United States.
⁷ Faculty of Education, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan.
⁸ National Institute of Health and Nutrition, National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, Osaka, Japan.
⁹ Faculty of Sports and Health Science, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, Japan.
¹⁰ Japan Institute of Sports Sciences, Tokyo, Japan.
¹¹ Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan; Japan Institute of Sports Sciences, Tokyo, Japan.

PMID: 37495114
DOI: 10.1016/j.tjnut.2023.07.010

Abstract

Background: Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is a minimally invasive, safe, easy, and quick technology used to determine body composition.

Objectives: We compared the relationship among impedance indices obtained using single-frequency BIA, multi-frequency BIA, bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy (BIS), and skeletal muscle mass (SMM) of physically active young men and athletes using the creatine (methyl-d₃) dilution method. We also compared the SMM and intracellular water (ICW) of athletes and active young men measured using a reference stable isotope dilution and BIS method, respectively.

Methods: We analyzed data from 28 men (mean age, 20 ± 2 y) who exercised regularly. Single-frequency BIA at 5 kHz and 50 kHz (R₅ and R₅₀), multi-frequency BIA (R_250-5), and BIS (R_ICW) methods of determining the SMM were compared. The deuterium and sodium bromide dilution methods of obtaining the total body water, ICW, and extracellular water measurements were also used, and the results were compared to those acquired using bioimpedance methods.

Results: The correlation coefficients between SMM and L²/R₅, L²/R₅₀, L²/R_250-5, and L²/R_ICW were 0.738, 0.762, 0.790, and 0.790, respectively (P < 0.01). The correlation coefficients between ICW and L²/R₅, L²/R₅₀, L²/R_250-5, and L²/R_ICW were 0.660, 0.687, 0.758, and 0.730, respectively (P < 0.001). However, the correlation coefficients of L²/R₅₀, L²/R_250-5, and L²/R_ICW for SMM and ICW were not significantly different.

Conclusions: Our findings suggest that single-frequency BIA at L²/R₅₀, multi-frequency BIA, and BIS are valid for assessing the SMM of athletes and active young men. Additionally, we confirmed that the SMM and ICW were correlated with single-frequency BIA, multi-frequency BIA, and BIS. Bioimpedance technologies may be dependable and practical means for assessing SMM and hydration compartment status of active young adult males; however, cross-validation is needed.

Keywords: BIA; BIS; body composition; electrical resistance; skeletal muscle mass.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adult
Athletes
Body Composition / physiology
Body Water*
Electric Impedance
Humans
Male
Muscle, Skeletal / physiology
Water*
Young Adult

Substances

Water