Quantitative assessment of infant body fat by anthropometry and total-body electrical conductivity

• Published in: The American journal of clinical nutrition Vol. 61; no. 2; pp. 279 - 286
• Main Authors: de Bruin, NC, van Velthoven, KA, Stijnen, T, Juttmann, RE, Degenhart, HJ, Visser, HK
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda, MD Elsevier Inc 01.02.1995; American Society for Clinical Nutrition; American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc
• Subjects: Adipose Tissue; Anthropometry - methods; Biological and medical sciences; Body Composition; Electric Conductivity; Electrodiagnosis. Electric activity recording; Female; Humans; Infant; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Male; Medical sciences; Miscellaneous. Technology; Sex Factors; Skinfold Thickness; Human; Performance evaluation; Electrical conductivity; Adipose tissue; Infant; Corporal biometry; Technique
• ISSN: 0002-9165; 1938-3207
• DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/61.2.279

Measurement of total-body electrical conductivity (TOBEC) has emerged as a rapid, safe, and reproducible method for estimation of infant total body fat (TBF). Agreement of two anthropometric methods [by Dauncey et al (1977) and Weststrate et al (1989)] with TOBEC-TBF was assessed in 435 healthy infants aged 21–365 d. Dauncey-TBF correlated with TOBEC-TBF by r2 = 0.61 and exceeded TOBEC-TBF by 0.14 ± 0.25 kg in infants < 4 mo of age. Thereafter, TOBEC-TBF exceeded Dauncey-TBF by 0.20 ± 0.47 kg. We modified Dauncey’s method, which significantly improved the correlation to r2 = 0.75. Weststrate-TBF correlated with TOBEC-TBF by r2 = 0.87, but exceeded TOBEC-TBF by 0.5 kg. Both methods showed poor agreement with TOBEC-TBF. We conclude that both methods, although suitable for comparison of TBF between groups, cannot be used to accurately assess TBF in an individual infant.