Comparison of segmental multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry for the assessment of body composition in a community-dwelling older population

AimThe purpose of the present study was to examine the agreement of segmental multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis (SMF-BIA) for the assessment of whole-body and appendicular fat mass (FM) and lean soft tissue mass (LSTM) compared with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in a community-dwelling Japanese older population. MethodsThe study population included 551 community-dwelling Japanese older adults (241 men and 310 women) aged between 65 and 87 years. Agreement between SMF-BIA and DXA for whole-body and appendicular body composition was assessed using simple linear regression and Bland-Altman analysis. ResultsHigh coefficients of determination (R-2) were observed for whole-body FM (R-2=0.91, standard error of estimate [SEE]=1.4kg in men and R-2=0.94, SEE=1.2kg in women) between SMF-BIA and DXA. The R-2 coefficient for whole-body LSTM was higher in men (R-2=0.88, SEE=1.9kg) than in women (R-2=0.83, SEE=1.5kg). There was systematic bias with overestimation of whole-body FM and underestimation of whole-body LSTM by SMF-BIA. Proportional bias was noted for measurement of whole-body FM and LSTM in both men and women, but there was no proportional bias between the two methods for measurement of appendicular LSTM (r=0.05, P=0.428 and r=-0.10, P=0.070 for men and women, respectively). ConclusionSMF-BIA is a good alternative for estimating the whole-body and appendicular FM and LSTM in a community-dwelling Japanese older population, although it overestimated FM and underestimated LSTM when validated against DXA. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2015; 15: 1013-1022.