Qualitative human body composition analysis assessed with bioelectrical impedance.

Abstract

Body composition is generally aiming at quantitative estimates of fat mass, inadequate to assess nutritional states that on the other hand are well defined by the intra/extra cellular masses proportion (ECM/BCM). Direct measures performed with phase sensitive bioelectrical impedance analyzers can be used to define the current distribution in normal and abnormal populations. Phase angle and reactance nomogram is directly reflecting the ECM/BCM pathways proportions and body impedance analysis (BIA) is also validated to estimate the individual content of body cell mass (BCM). A new body cell mass index (BCMI) obtained dividing the weight of BCM in kilograms by the body surface in square meters is confronted to the scatterplot distribution of phase angle and reactance values obtained from controls and patients, and proposed as a qualitative approach to identify abnormal ECM/BCM ratios and nutritional states.