Title

Fat-free mass characteristics of Hispanic adults: Comparisons with non-Hispanic Caucasians and cadaver reference values

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Clinical Nutrition

Abstract

Background: A four-compartment (4C) model quantifies fat, water, mineral and residual. As such, 4C models are more accurate than two-compartment (2C) models based off cadaver reference values (RV), which necessitate assumptions regarding fat-free mass (FFM) characteristics. Nonetheless, research has yet to determine whether the FFM characteristics of Hispanics are similar to non-Hispanic Caucasians and RV. Aim: The aim of this analysis was to compare the FFM characteristics of Hispanics to non-Hispanic Caucasians and cadaver RV. Methods: Data from 2 separate research centers were pooled to create a sample of 100 and 119 Hispanic males and females (age: 18–54 yrs; BMI: 16.46–42.27 kg/m2), respectively, and 47 and 55 non-Hispanic Caucasian males and females (age: 18–54 yrs; BMI: 16.00–36.67 kg/m2), respectively (n = 331). A 4C model was determined using bioimpedance analysis for hydration, dual energy X-ray absorptiometry for mineral, and air displacement plethysmography for body density (4C-ADP). FFM was calculated via the 4C-ADP and FFM characteristics (i.e., density [DFFM], water [TBW:FFM], bone mineral [Mo:FFM], and residual [R:FFM]) were compared between sexes and ethnicities using a one-way ANOVA and against RV via a one sample t-test. Results: In Hispanics, all FFM characteristics significantly differed from cadaver RV (all p < 0.05). In contrast, DFFM and TBW:FFM of non-Hispanic Caucasians were similar to cadaver RV for both sexes (all p > 0.05). Moreover, the R:FFM of non-Hispanic Caucasian females did not differ from cadaver RV (p = 0.403) whereas all other comparisons were significantly different (all p < 0.05). Sex comparisons within Hispanic participants revealed FFM characteristics were similar between males and females other than Mo:FFM (p < 0.001) whereas all FFM characteristics were similar between non-Hispanic Caucasian males and females (all p > 0.05). All of the ethnicity comparisons within males were statistically significant (all p < 0.05). Moreover, ethnicity comparisons within females were statistically significant for all comparisons other than Mo:FFM (p = 0.258). Conclusion: The observed differences in FFM characteristics of Hispanics as compared to non-Hispanics Caucasians and reference values indicate that allied health professionals should employ appropriate caution when estimating body composition via 2C models in Hispanic populations.

First Page

3080

Last Page

3085

DOI

10.1016/j.clnu.2020.01.013

Publication Date

10-1-2020

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