Correlation of parameters of body composition with age, gender and each other in sedentary diabetics and matched nondiabetics of an Urban Area of West India

Background: Altered body fat and muscle mass are features of type 2 diabetes. Qualitative analysis for the same including total body fat (TBF), visceral fat (VF), and subcutaneous fat (SF) can be done by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). Aim: We correlated BIA derived body fat parameters with age, sex and, each other in type 2 diabetics and matched nondiabetics. Materials and Methods: We recruited 78 under treatment sedentary type 2 diabetics of either sex with known glycemic and lipidemic control and an equal number of age-sex matched controls. Parameters of body composition were derived in both groups by Omron KaradaScan (Model HBF -510, China), using the principle of tetra poplar BIA which were correlated for statistical significance. Result: We found a positive correlation of age with body composition parameters in male nondiabetics and female diabetics and vice versa. Body mass index, VF, SF, and TBF correlated positively with each other in all groups. Skeletal muscle mass correlated negatively with all body fat parameters more so in diabetics, with female disadvantage. Conclusion: In sedentary diabetics or matched nondiabetics, altered body composition varies by age and gender, with most body fat parameters correlating positively with each other. BIA can be used after setting age-sex specific norms as a cost-effective tool and further work is suggested.