Body Composition Evaluated by Segmental Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis in Healthy Subjects and Athletes

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the fat-free mass (FFM) of the total body, the upper limbs, and the lower limbs in healthy subjects and basketball players obtained by the new 8-electrode segmental bioelectrical impedance analysis (S-BIA) and to compare the results with the FFM obtained by DXA. The participants were 30 healthy subjects (15 men and 15 women) aged 24.9±3.5 years old and 15 female basketball players aged 23.1±3.1 years old. In the healthy subjects, positive correlations (p<0.001) were observed between the FFM obtained by S-BIA and DXA of the total body (r=0.973), the upper limbs (r=0.956), and the lower limbs (r=0.954). Similarly, in the basketball players, positive correlations (p<0.001, p<0.01) were observed between the FFM obtained by S-BIA and DXA of the total body (r=0.943), the upper limbs (r=0.743), and the lower limbs (r=0.934). The results suggest that the new 8-electrode S-BIA is a valid and convenient method for analyzing body composition of the total body and the body segments in healthy subjects and athletes.