Body fluid redistribution affects dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry body composition scores

Abstract

This study evaluated whether girths corrected for ultrasound-measured subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) better predict DXA-derived fat-free mass (FFM) than those corrected using skinfold thickness. Sixty university students underwent DXA scans and anthropometric assessments. Corrected girth methods (CGM) were calculated using both techniques. Regression models showed strong correlations between CGM and FFM for both methods, but ultrasound did not significantly improve prediction accuracy over skinfold-based corrections. These findings support the validity of both approaches, though further research is needed to assess their sensitivity to changes in FFM over time.