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Body composition estimated by bioelectrical impedance in the Swedish elderly. Development of population-based prediction equation and reference values of fat-free mass and body fat for 70- and 75-y olds

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 57, pages 909–916 (2003)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective: To develop a bioelectrical impedance (BIA) prediction equation for fat-free mass (FFMBIA) and present reference values of FFM and body fat (BF) for healthy Swedish elderly from population-based representative samples.

Subjects: This study is based on 823 (344 males, 479 females) participants from two systematic samples of birth cohorts in Göteborg aged 70 (cohort H70V, 201 males and 299 females) and 75 (cohort NORA75, 143 males and 180 females).

Methods: Body composition was measured with BIA (BIA-101, RJL system, Detroit) in both cohorts and was estimated by a four-compartment (4C) model from total body water (TBW) and total body potassium (TBK) in a sub-sample of the NORA75 cohort. The FFMBIA was validated against the FFM from the 4C model (FFM4C).

Results: The FFMBIA correlated well with FFM4C (r=0.95, SEE=2.64 kg). The FFMBIA (kg) in 70-y-old males and females were 58.5±5.4 and 43.4±4.4, and for 75-y-old males and females were 56.1±4.7 and 42.5±4, respectively. The body fat in kg (FM) among 70-y-old males and females were 25.2±8.1 and 25.7±8.4, and for 75-y-old males and females were 21.7±7.1 and 22.8+7.2, respectively. The percent body fat (BF%) among 70-y-old males and females were 29.5±5.8 and 36.3±6.4, and for 75-y-old males and females were 27.3±6 and 34.1±6.1, respectively.

Conclusion: The FFM, FM and BF% from this study might be used as reference values for Swedish elderly aged 70 and 75 y.

Sponsorship: See acknowledgement.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by grants from the Gun and Bertil Stohnes Foundation, the Wilhelm and Martina Lundgren Foundation, the Hjalmar Svensson Foundation and the Lions Foundation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geriatric Medicine, Göteborg, Sweden

    D K Dey & B Steen

  2. Department of Clinical Nutrition, Göteborg, Sweden

    D K Dey & I Bosaeus

  3. Department of Primary Health Care, Göteborg University, Göteborg, Sweden

    D K Dey & L Lissner

  4. Department of Nordic School of Public Health, Göteborg, Sweden

    L Lissner

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  1. D K Dey
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Correspondence to D K Dey.

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Dey, D., Bosaeus, I., Lissner, L. et al. Body composition estimated by bioelectrical impedance in the Swedish elderly. Development of population-based prediction equation and reference values of fat-free mass and body fat for 70- and 75-y olds. Eur J Clin Nutr 57, 909–916 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601625

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