Fat-free and fat mass percentiles in 5225 healthy subjects aged 15 to 98 years

OBJECTIVES:- Fat-free mass (FFM) and fat mass (FM) are important in the eva luation of nutritional status. Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is a simple, reproducible method used to determine FFM and FM. Because normal va lues for FFM and FM have not yet been established in adults aged 15 to 98 y , its use is limited in the evaluation of nutritional status. The aims of t his study were to determine reference values for FFM, FM, and percentage of FM by BIA in a white population of healthy adults, observe their differenc es with age, and develop percentile distributions for these parameters betw een ages 15 and 98 y. METHODS: Whole-body resistance and reactance of 2735 healthy white men and 2490 healthy white women, aged 15 to 98 y, was determined by 50-kHz BIA, wi th four skin electrodes on the right hand and foot. FFM and FM were calcula ted by a previously validated, single BIA formula and analyzed for age deca des. RESULTS: Mean FFM peaked in 35- to 44-y-old men and 45- to 54-y-old women a nd declined thereafter. Mean FFM was 8.9 kg or 14.8% lower in men older tha n 85 y than in men 35 to 44 y old and 6.2 kg or 14.3% lower in women older than 85 y than in women 45 to 54 y old. Mean FM and percentage of FM increa sed progressively in men and women between ages 15 and 98 y. The results su ggested that the greater weight noted in older subjects is due to larger FM . CONCLUSIONS: The percentile data presented serve as reference to evaluate d eviations from normal values of FFM and FM in healthy adult men and women a t a given age. (C) Elsevier Science Inc. 2001.