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Measurement of the body composition

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Metabolism and Artificial Nutrition in the Critically Ill

Part of the book series: Topics in Anaesthesia and Critical Care ((TIACC))

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Abstract

Body composition has been studied for over 100 years. Early work tended to rely on chemical composition, for example by the end of the 19th century the water, fat, nitrogen and major mineral composition of the fetus had been established. 20th century composition studies expanded to include body fluid volumes and metabolic balance techniques, amongst others. Important works include the estimation of total body water by isotopic dilution [1], the concept of total exchangeable sodium and potassium [2], densitometric techniques for the relative proportion of lean and fat [3], body water and extracellular fluid volume for the calculation of cell mass and body fat [4], the estimation of lean and fat using naturally occurring 40K [5] and the use of neutron activation for measurement of both bulk and trace elements [6]. There have been numerous other advances in the last 30 years, however those works noted above have provided a foundation from which the measurement of body composition is undertaken today.

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  1. S. J. S. Ryde
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of General Clinical Medicine, Cattinara Hospital, Trieste, Italy

    G. Guarnieri MD

  2. Department of Anaesthesia, Intensive Care and Pain Therapy, Cattinara Hospital, Trieste, Italy

    F. Iscra MD

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Ryde, S.J.S. (1999). Measurement of the body composition. In: Guarnieri, G., Iscra, F. (eds) Metabolism and Artificial Nutrition in the Critically Ill. Topics in Anaesthesia and Critical Care. Springer, Milano. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-2901-9_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-2901-9_2

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