TOTAL AND PERCENTAGE BODY-WATER IN HEALTHY NIGERIAN CHILDREN AGED 5-15 YEARS

Bioelectrical impedance was used to measure total body water in Nigeri an children in a clinical setting. Total body water and percentage bod y water were determined in 454 boys and 450 girls, all healthy Nigeria n children aged between 5 and 15 years. The age range and total body w ater were similar in both sexes but percentage body water was signific antly higher in boys than in girls (p < 0.000001). Total body water in creased with age in both boys and girls. Percentage body water increas ed with age but not significantly so in boys (p > 0.076) and decreased significantly with age in the girls (p = 0.008), an indication of dif ferences between the sexes in how the proportion of body fat mass chan ged with age. These data are very similar to those reported in the lit erature. The bioelectrical impedance method for body water determinati on is non-invasive, cheap, portable and well accepted by children. Its more general clinical application in paediatric practice is recommend ed.