Evaluation of body composition of eutrophic young women and eutrophic and overweight elderly women using the deuterium oxide method and different anthropometric equations

Objective:

To evaluate the body fat percentage and body lean and fat mass of eutrophic young women and eutrophic and overweight/obese elderly women using anthropometry (generalized and specific equations) and deuterium oxide and to define the concordance coefficient between the equations and the deuterium oxide method (reference).

Methods:

Forty eight volunteers (15 eutrophic young women, 18 eutrophic elderly women, and 15 overweight/obese elderly women), aged between 18 and 75 years, participated in this study. Body weight was measured using a digital scale, and height was measured using a stadiometer with a vertical backboard. Body composition was assessed using anthropometric equations and deuterium oxide (²H₂O). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Student's t test, Lin's concordance coefficient, and Bland-Altman plot.

Results:

The mean age and body mass index were, respectively: 25.6±3.7 years and 20.9±2.2 kg/m² for the eutrophic young women; 69.1±3.6 years and 23.8±1.8 kg/m² for the eutrophic elderly women; and 69.6±3.0 years and 32.6±2.6 kg/m² for the overweight/obese elderly women. The best concordance coefficients between the anthropometric equations and deuterium oxide for body fat were: eutrophic young women, Deuterium versus Sloan - 0.70; eutrophic elderly women, Deuterium versus Jackson - 0.89; and overweight/obese elderly women, Deuterium versus Deurenberg - 0.77.

Conclusion:

The equations that showed the best concordance with deuterium oxide were: Sloan for eutrophic young women; Jackson and Durnin & Wormersley for eutrophic elderly women; and Deurenberg, and Visser for overweight/obese elderly women.

Young adult; Body composition; Aged