Body Composition Measured by Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis is a Viable Alternative to Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Children with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Overview

Journal JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr

Publisher Wiley

Specialty Nutritional Sciences

Date 2021 Apr 3

PMID 33811369

Citations 12

Authors

Sarah Orkin

Toshifumi Yodoshi

Emily Romantic

Kathryn Hitchcock

Ana Catalina Arce-Clachar

Kristin Bramlage

Qin Sun

Lin Fei

Stavra A Xanthakos

Andrew T Trout

Marialena Mouzaki

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: To determine the relationship between bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) obtained measures of body composition in children with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Methods: Youth with obesity and NAFLD who had BIA and abdominal MRI testing were included. BIA measured skeletal muscle mass (SMM), appendicular lean mass (ALM), trunk muscle mass (TMM), and percent body fat. MRI measured total psoas muscle surface area (tPMSA) and fat compartments. Univariate analysis described the relationship between BIA- and MRI-derived measurements. Multivariable regression analyses built a model with body composition measured via MRI.

Results: 115 patients (82 (71%) male, 38 (33%) Hispanic, median age14 years) were included. There was a strong correlation between tPMSA and SMM, ALM, and TMM (correlation coefficients [CCs]: 0.701, 0.689, 0.708, respectively; all P < .001). Higher SMM, ALM, and TMM were associated with higher tPMSA. This association remained after controlling for age, sex, ethnicity, type 2 diabetes mellitus status, and body mass index z-score. Total fat mass by BIA and MRI-determined total, subcutaneous, and intraperitoneal fat area correlated significantly (CCs: 0.813, 0.808, 0.515, respectively; all P < .001). In univariate regression, higher total fat mass by BIA was associated with increased total fat area and increased fat in each of the four regions measured by MRI. After controlling for confounders, the association between total fat mass by BIA and total fat area by MRI persisted.

Conclusions: BIA measures of muscle and fat mass correlate strongly with MRI measures of tPMSA and fat areas in children with obesity and NAFLD.

Citing Articles

A Novel Point-of-Care Prediction Model for Steatotic Liver Disease: Expected Role of Mass Screening in the Global Obesity Crisis.

Park J, Chung G, Chang Y, Kim S, Sohn W, Ryu S Gut Liver. 2025; 19(1):126-135.

PMID: 39778883 PMC: 11736326. DOI: 10.5009/gnl240367.

Association between Bioelectrical Impedance Parameters, Magnetic Resonance Imaging Muscle Parameters, and Fatty Liver Severity in Children and Adolescents.

Song K, Seol E, Lee E, Lee H, Lee H, Chae H Gut Liver. 2025; 19(1):108-115.

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Quantitative Assessment of Body Composition in Cirrhosis.

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Visceral Fat and Diabetes: Associations With Liver Fibrosis in Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease.

Kumar A, Arora A, Sharma P, Jan S, Ara I J Clin Exp Hepatol. 2024; 15(1):102378.

PMID: 39268479 PMC: 11387673. DOI: 10.1016/j.jceh.2024.102378.

Comparing body composition measures in children with end stage liver disease using noninvasive bioimpedance analysis.

Ekramzadeh M, Moosavi S, Mashhadiagha A, Ghorbanpour A, Motazedian N, Dehghani S BMC Pediatr. 2024; 24(1):549.

PMID: 39192315 PMC: 11348767. DOI: 10.1186/s12887-024-04974-x.

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