Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Paper
  • Published:

Midarm computerized tomography fat, muscle and total areas correlation with nutritional assessment data

International Journal of Obesity volume 28, pages 1451–1455 (2004)Cite this article

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Correlated nutritional assessment data (anthropometric, bioimpedance and biochemical) with computerized tomography (CT) of total, muscle and fat midarm areas. Total body fat and fat-free mass were estimated using bioimpedance. Daily urinary urea and creatinine were also quantified. In all, 28 subjects (13 males, 15 females) were evaluated and, they were clinically divided in obese, malnourished and control subjects.

DESIGN: Quantification of total, fat muscle midarm areas by tomography and anthropometry and total body fat and free-fat mass by bioimpedance.

RESULTS: CT values were 29% higher for fat area and 4–5% lower for total and muscle midarm areas compared against anthropometric data. The midarm skinfold thickness highly correlated with CT fat midarm area. Total body fat and free-fat mass bioimpedance data showed significant correlation with CT midarm data. Urinary creatinine correlated with CT muscle midarm area.

CONCLUSION: Utilization of anthropometry can lead to error estimation of fat and fat-free arm areas and that bioimpedance gives fair correlation between total body and CT midarm measurements.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Lukaski HC . Methods for the assesment of human body composition: traditional and new. Am J Clin Nutr 1987; 46: 537–556.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Marchini JS, Unamuno MRDL, Fonseca RMHR, Rodrigues MMP, Dutra-de-Oliveira JE . Métodos antropométricos para avaliação do estado nutricional de adultos. R Nutr Puccamp 1992; 5: 21–42.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Vannucchi H, Marchini JS, Santos JE, Dutra–de–Oliveira JE . Avaliação antropométrica e bioquímica do estado nutricional. Rev Med HCFMRP–USP 1984; 17: 17–28.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Orphanidou C, McCargar L, Birminghan L, Mathieson J, Goldner E . Accuracy of subcutaneous fat measurement comparison of skinfold calipers, ultrasound and computed tomography. J Am Diet Assoc 1994; 94: 855–858.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Heymsfield S B, Arteaga C, McManus C, Smith J, Moffit S . Measurement of muscle mass in humans: validity of the 24–hour urinary creatinine method. Am J Clin Nutr 1983; 37: 478–494.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Jordão Jr AA, Vitali LH, Tocchini HA, Dutra-de-Oliveira JE, Marchini JS . Excreção urinária de nitrogênio total, creatinina e uréia na avaliação nutricional. Cad Nutr 1992; 5: 1–17.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Chumlea CW, Guo SS . Bioelectrical impedance and body composition. Present status and future directions. Nutr Rev 1994; 52: 123–131.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Lukaski HC, Johnson PE, Bolonchuk WW, Lykken GI . Assessment of fat-free mass using bioelectrical impedance measurements of the human body. Am J Clin Nutr 1985; 41: 810–817.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Buckley DC, Kudsk KA, Rose BA, Fatzinger P, Koetting CA, Schlatter M . Anthropometric and computed tomographic measurements of lower extremity lean body mass. J Am Diet Assoc 1987; 87: 196–199.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Forbes GB, Brown M, Griffiths HJB . Arm muscle plus bone area: anthropometric and CAT scan compared. Am J Clin Nutr 1988; 47: 929–931.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Mayo-Smith W, Hayes CW, Biller BMK, Klibanski A, Rosenthal H, Rosenthal DI . Body fat distribution measured with CT: correlations in healthy subjects, patients with anorexia nervosa, and patients with Cushing Syndrome. Radiology 1989; 170: 515–518.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Armellini F, Zamboni M, Castelli S, Robbi R, Mino A, Todesco T, Bergamo-Andreis IV, Bosello O . Interrelationships between intraabdominal fat and total serum testosterone levels in obese women. Metabolism 1994; 43: 390–395.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Ferland M, Després J-P, Tremblay A, Pinault S, Nadeau A, Moorjani S, Lupien PJ, Theriault G, Bouchard C . Assessment of adipose tissue distribution by computed axial tomography in obese women: association with body density and anthropometric measurements. Br J Nutr 1989; 61: 139–148.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Clark LC, Thompson HL . Determination of creatine and creatinine in urine. Ann Chem 1949; 21: 1218–1221.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Crocker CL . Rapid determination of urea nitrogen in serum or plasma without deproteinization. Am J Med Technol 1967; 33: 361–365.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Heymsfield SB, McManus C, Smith J, Stevens V, Nixon DW . Anthropometric measurement of muscle mass: revised equations for calculating bone–free arm muscle area. Am J Clin Nutr 1982; 36: 680.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Heymsfield SB, Olafson RP, Kutner MH, Nixon DW . A radiographic method of quantifying protein–calorie undernutrition. Am J Clin Nutr 1979; 32: 693–702.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Bradford-Hill A . Principles of medical statistics, 8th edn. Oxford University Press: New York; 1966.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Walia RNS, Balla AK, Suri S . Realibility of skinfold calipers as a tool for measuring body fat in human beings. Indian J Med Res 1992; 96: 255–257.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, Clinical Nutrition, Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo University, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil

    A A Jordão Jr, J E Dutra de Oliveira & J Sérgio Marchini

  2. Radio-Diagnosis and Imaging, University Hospital of Medical School, São Paulo University, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil

    A D Bellucci

Authors
  1. A A Jordão Jr
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A D Bellucci
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J E Dutra de Oliveira
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. J Sérgio Marchini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A A Jordão Jr.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Jordão, A., Bellucci, A., Dutra de Oliveira, J. et al. Midarm computerized tomography fat, muscle and total areas correlation with nutritional assessment data. Int J Obes 28, 1451–1455 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0802781

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0802781

Keywords

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links