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Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis Overestimates Fat‐Free Mass in Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Treatment
Author(s) -
Bell Kirsten Elizabeth,
Schmidt Schuyler,
Pfeiffer Amanda,
Bos Lisa,
Earthman Carrie,
Russell Caryl,
Mourtzakis Marina
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
nutrition in clinical practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.725
H-Index - 71
eISSN - 1941-2452
pISSN - 0884-5336
DOI - 10.1002/ncp.10438
Subject(s) - bioelectrical impedance analysis , medicine , fat free mass , breast cancer , overweight , population , body mass index , dual energy x ray absorptiometry , dual energy , nuclear medicine , fat mass , cancer , osteoporosis , bone mineral , environmental health
Background Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is commonly used to assess fat‐free mass (FFM) and fat mass (FM) in breast cancer patients. However, because of the prevalence of overweight, obesity and variable hydration status in these patients, assumptions for existing prediction equations developed in healthy adults may be violated, resulting in inaccurate body composition assessment. Methods We measured whole‐body FFM using single‐frequency BIA (50 kHz) and dual‐energy x‐ray absorptiometry (DXA) in 48 patients undergoing treatment for breast cancer. We applied raw BIA data to 18 previously published FFM prediction equations (FFM BIA ) and compared these estimates to DXA (FFM DXA ; reference method). Results On average, patients were 52 ± 10 (mean ± SD) years of age and overweight (body mass index: 27.5 ± 5.5 kg/m 2 ; body fat by DXA: 40.1% ± 6.6%). Relative to DXA, BIA overestimated FFM by 4.1 ± 3.4 kg (FFM DXA : 42.0 ± 5.9 kg; FFM BIA : 46.1 ± 3.4 kg). Individual equation‐generated predictions of FFM BIA ranged from 39.6 ± 6.7 to 52.2 ± 5.6 kg, with 16 equations overestimating and 2 equations underestimating FFM BIA compared with FFM DXA . Based on equivalence testing, no equation‐generated estimates were equivalent to DXA. Conclusion Compared with DXA, BIA overestimated FFM in breast cancer patients during treatment. Although several equations performed better than others, none produced values that aligned closely with DXA. Caution should be used when interpreting BIA measurements in this clinical population, and future studies should develop prediction equations specific to breast cancer patients.