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Nutrition and Health (including climate and ecological aspects)

Longitudinal agreement of four bioimpedance analyzers for detecting changes in raw bioimpedance during purposeful weight gain with resistance training

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 75, pages 1060–1068 (2021)Cite this article

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Abstract

Background

Due to inherent errors involved in the transformation of raw bioelectrical variables to body fluids or composition estimates, the sole use of resistance (R), reactance (Xc), and phase angle (φ) has been advocated when quantifying longitudinal changes. The aim of this investigation was to assess the ability of four bioimpedance analyzers to detect raw bioimpedance changes induced by purposeful weight gain with resistance training.

Methods

Twenty-one resistance trained males completed a 6-week lifestyle intervention with the aim of purposeful weight gain. Bioimpedance analysis was performed before and after the intervention using four different analyzers (MFBIAInBody: InBody 770; MFBIASECA: Seca mBCA 515/514; BIS: ImpediMed SFB7; SFBIA: RJL Quantum V) for the quantification of R, Xc, and φ at the 50-kHz frequency. Repeated measures ANOVA and follow up tests were performed.

Results

Analysis revealed main effects of time and method for R, Xc, and φ (p ≤ 0.02), without significant time x method interactions (p ≥ 0.07). Follow up for time main effects indicated that, on average, R decreased by 4.5–5.8%, Xc decreased by 2.3–4.0%, and φ increased by 1.8–2.6% across time for all analyzers combined. However, varying levels of disagreement in absolute values were observed for each bioelectrical variable.

Conclusions

The differences in absolute bioelectrical values suggests that analyzers should not be used interchangeably, which holds particular importance when reference values are utilized. Despite absolute differences, analyzers with varying characteristics demonstrated similar abilities to detect changes in R, Xc, and φ over time.

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Fig. 1: Changes in raw bioimpedance values.
Fig. 2: Individual responses in resistance.
Fig. 3: Individual responses in reactance.
Fig. 4: Individual responses in phase angle.

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Acknowledgements

One of the multi-frequency bioimpedance analyzers used in the present study (InBody 770, Biospace Co., Ltd, Seoul, South Korea) was loaned to the investigators by the manufacturer (Biospace Co., Ltd, DBA InBody; contract #C14618). As specified in the contract, the manufacturer was allowed to review the manuscript to ensure that the technology was accurately depicted but did not influence the presentation of the findings. The single-frequency bioelectrical impedance analyzer used in the study (RJL Quantum V analyzer, RJLSystems®, Clinton Township, MI, USA) was provided to the laboratory as an in-kind donation from the manufacturer. Neither entity, nor any external entity, had any role in the study design, data collection, data analysis, or presentation of findings beyond the aforementioned review of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Energy Balance & Body Composition Laboratory; Department of Kinesiology & Sport Management, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA

    Matthew T. Stratton, Robert W. Smith, Patrick S. Harty, Christian Rodriguez, Baylor A. Johnson, Jacob R. Dellinger, Abegale D. Williams, Sarah J. White, Marqui L. Benavides & Grant M. Tinsley

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Stratton, M.T., Smith, R.W., Harty, P.S. et al. Longitudinal agreement of four bioimpedance analyzers for detecting changes in raw bioimpedance during purposeful weight gain with resistance training. Eur J Clin Nutr 75, 1060–1068 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-020-00811-3

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