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ARS Home » Plains Area » Houston, Texas » Children's Nutrition Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #75953
Title: BODY COMPOSITION REFERENCE DATA FOR A YOUNG MULTIETHNIC FEMALE POPULATION

Author
item Ellis, Kenneth
item Abrams, Steven
item Wong, William

Submitted to: Applied Radiation And Isotopes
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/14/1996
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: A state-of-the-art measurement called dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) provides information for a three-compartment model of body composition: bone mineral content (BMC), non-bone lean tissue mass (Lean), and body fat (Fat) mass. The low radiation dose and brief time needed for measurements make this technique ideal for use in children. We wanted to examine these compartments in relationship to age, and see if composition development is different among females in three ethnic groups--white, black and Hispanic. We examined females in these three groups from age 3 to 18 years. There was a significant difference in BMC and Lean masses between the black and white groups, but not the Hispanic vs white groups. Fat values for the Hispanic group were higher than for the white group. BMC and Lean values for the blacks were higher than for the whites and Hispanics. Our findings will give reserchers useful ethnic-specific values sfor DXA-based body composition measurements in young females in future studies.

Technical Abstract: Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) produces information for a three- compartment model of body composition:bone mineral content (BMC), non-bone lean tissue mass (Lean), and body fat (Fat) mass. The very low radiation dose (less than uSv) and rapid measurement time (less than 12min) make this technique suitable for use in children. In the present study, our primary aims were to 1) establish relationships for the three body compartments as a function of age, and 2) to determine if compositional development is different among females in three ethnic groups (white, black and Hispanic).