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The effect of acute fluid consumption on measures of impedance and percent body fat using leg-to-leg bioelectrical impedance analysis

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 60, pages 142–146 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective:

To examine the effect of acute fluid consumption on measures of impedance and percent body fat (%BF) using a common leg-to-leg bioelectrical impedance analyzer system.

Design:

Cross-sectional design with treatment order determined using a counterbalanced assignment.

Setting:

University laboratory.

Subjects:

In total, 21 recreationally active men (mean age 19.7±1.0 years; body mass index 24.2±2.3 kg/m2) volunteered to participate in this study.

Intervention:

Subjects had their body composition assessed on three separate occasions. After an initial baseline body composition measurement, subjects consumed 591 ml of water (H2O), a carbohydrate/electrolyte drink (CHOE), or received nothing, used as the control (CON). Subjects were reassessed 20, 40, and 60 min after baseline (POST). Urine specific gravity (USG) was recorded at baseline and 60 min POST to assess hydration state.

Results:

There were no significant changes in impedance or total body water (TBW) for any of the measurement time periods after drinking H2O or a CHOE beverage. Body weight (BW) (P<0.0001) and %BF (P<0.02) increased significantly 20 min POST and remained elevated at the 40 and 60 min POST time periods. After drinking, USG significantly decreased (P<0.0001) 60 min POST from baseline. For the CON trial, there were no significant changes in BW, %BF, TBW, or USG over time.

Conclusions:

Fluid consumption had no effect on lower-body impedance despite causing significant changes in hydration state. A slight overestimation in %BF (∼0.5%) was observed due to increased BW in the H2O and CHOE trials. This finding may have little practical significance when assessing body composition by LBIA.

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Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge all subjects for their participation in this investigation.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health Science, Lock Haven University, Lock Haven, PA, USA

    C B Dixon

  2. Department of Exercise Science, University of Scranton, Scranton, PA, USA

    S J LoVallo

  3. Department of Exercise Science, Bloomsburg University, Bloomsburg, PA, USA

    J L Andreacci

  4. Center for Exercise and Health-Fitness Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    F L Goss

Authors
  1. C B Dixon
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  2. S J LoVallo
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  3. J L Andreacci
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  4. F L Goss
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to C B Dixon.

Additional information

Guarantor: CB Dixon.

Contributors: CBD was responsible for study design, data analysis, and writing of the manuscript. SJL assisted with study design and was responsible for data collection. JLA and FLG provided significant advice regarding data analysis and were responsible for revision of the manuscript.

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Dixon, C., LoVallo, S., Andreacci, J. et al. The effect of acute fluid consumption on measures of impedance and percent body fat using leg-to-leg bioelectrical impedance analysis. Eur J Clin Nutr 60, 142–146 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602282

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