Prediction of fat-free mass in young children using bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy

Background Bioimpedance devices are practical for measuring body composition in preschool children, but their application is limited by the lack of validated equations. Objectives To develop and validate fat-free mass (FFM) bioimpedance prediction equations among New Zealand 3.5-year olds, with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) as the reference method. Methods Bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy (SFB7, ImpediMed) and DXA (iDXA, GE Lunar) measurements were conducted on 65 children. An equation incorporating weight, sex, ethnicity, and impedance was developed and validated. Performance was compared with published equations and mixture theory prediction. Results The equation developed in ~70% ( n = 45) of the population (FFM [kg] = 1.39 + 0.30 weight [kg] + 0.39 length 2 /resistance at 50 kHz [cm 2 /Ω] + 0.30 sex [M = 1/F = 0] + 0.28 ethnicity [1 = Asian/0 = non-Asian]) explained 88% of the variance in FFM and predicted FFM with a root mean squared error of 0.39 kg (3.4% of mean FFM). When internally validated ( n = 20), bias was small (40 g, 0.3% of mean FFM), with limits of agreement (LOA) ±7.6% of mean FFM (95% LOA: –0.82, 0.90 kg). Published equations evaluated had similar LOA, but with marked bias (>12.5% of mean FFM) when validated in our cohort, likely due to DXA differences. Of mixture theory methods assessed, the SFB7 inbuilt equation with personalized body geometry values performed best. However, bias and LOA were larger than with the empirical equations (–0.43 kg [95% LOA: –1.65, 0.79], p < 0.001). Conclusions We developed and validated a bioimpedance equation that can accurately predict FFM. Further external validation of the equation is required.