Cell membrane capacitance relationship to reference-measured body composition parameters in young adult athletes

Cell membrane capacitance (Cm) is considered a measure of cellular health. This study evaluated the relationship between bioimpedance spectroscopy-measured Cm and multicomponent model reference-measured body composition variables from air displacement plethysmography and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry in a sample of 226 young adult athletes. Men (3.00 ± 0.62 nF) had greater ( p < 0.001) Cm than women (1.90 ± 0.36 nF). Variables indicative of lean mass, such as fat-free mass index, had a strong ( r > .70) direct relationship with Cm. The Cm relationship was moderate for measures related to body mass and bone health ( r = .30 to .60) and weak ( r < .20) for fat mass. The relationship between Cm and body composition variables is strongest for the fat-free components.