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Impact of indexing resting metabolic rate against fat-free mass determined by different body composition models

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 58, pages 1132–1141 (2004)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective: To examine the differences arising from indexing resting metabolic rate (RMR) against fat-free mass (FFM) determined using two-, three- and four-compartment body composition models.

Design: All RMR and body composition measurements were conducted on the same day for each subject following compliance with premeasurement protocols.

Subjects: Data were generated from measurements on 104 males (age 32.1±12.1 y (mean±s.d.); body mass 81.15±12.85 kg; height 179.5±6.5 cm; body fat 20.6±7.6%).

Interventions: Body density (BD), total body water (TBW) and bone mineral mass (BMM) were measured by hydrodensitometry, deuterium dilution and dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), respectively. These measures were used to determine two (hydrodensitometry: BD; hydrometry: TBW)-, three (BD and TBW)- and four- compartment (BD, TBW and BMM) FFM values. DXA also provided three compartment derived FFM values. RMR was measured using open circuit indirect calorimetry.

Results: Three (body fat group: lean, moderate, high) × five (body composition determination: hydrodensitometry, hydrometry, three-compartment, DXA, four-compartment) ANOVAs were conducted on FFM and RMR kJ.kg FFM−1.d−1. Within-group comparisons revealed that hydrodensitometry and DXA were associated with significant (P<0.001) overestimations and underestimations of FFM and RMR kJ.kg FFM−1.d−1, respectively, compared with four-compartment-derived criterion values. A significant interaction (P<0.001) resulted from DXA's greater deviations from criterion values in lean subjects. While hydrometric means were not significantly (P≥0.68) different from criterion values intraindividual differences were large (FFM: −1.5 to 2.9 kg; RMR: −6.0 to 3.2 kJ.kg FFM-1.d-1).

Conclusion: The relationship between RMR kJ.kg FFM−1.d−1 and exercise status would best be investigated using three (BD, TBW)- or four (BD, TBW, BMM)-compartment body composition models to determine FFM. Other models either significantly underestimate indexed RMR (hydrodensitometry, DXA) or display large intraindividual differences (hydrometry) compared with four-compartment derived criterion values.

Sponsorship: Australian Research Council (small grants scheme).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Pharmaceutical, Molecular and Biomedical Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia

    J LaForgia

  2. Exercise Physiology Laboratory, School of Education, Flinders University, Adelaide, 5001, Australia

    GE van der Ploeg, RT Withers, SM Gunn & AG Brooks

  3. Department of Nuclear Medicine, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia

    BE Chatterton

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  1. J LaForgia
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  2. GE van der Ploeg
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  3. RT Withers
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  4. SM Gunn
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  5. AG Brooks
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  6. BE Chatterton
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Contributions

Guarantor: J LaForgia.

Contributors: JLF, GEV, SMG and AGB recruited the subjects, collected and analysed the data; JLF, RTW and GEV conceived and wrote the paper; BEC supervised the DXA scans.

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Correspondence to J LaForgia.

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LaForgia, J., van der Ploeg, G., Withers, R. et al. Impact of indexing resting metabolic rate against fat-free mass determined by different body composition models. Eur J Clin Nutr 58, 1132–1141 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601941

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