Comparison of the Body Composition of Caucasian Young Normal Body Mass Women, Measured in the Follicular Phase, Depending on the Carbohydrate Diet Level

Abstract

Background and objectives: Some publications indicate the possibility of the influence of meal nutritional value on results of bioelectrical impedance, and of the relation between the long-term carbohydrate intake and body composition. The aim of the presented study was to evaluate the influence of long-term intake of carbohydrates on body composition results assessed using the bioelectrical impedance of Caucasian young women with normal body mass, who were in the follicular phase of their menstrual cycle. Materials and Methods: Body composition was assessed in 100 women (18–30 years), according to strict rules, to minimize the influence of disturbing factors and by using two types of bioelectrical impedance device of the same operator to eliminate the influence of measurement (BIA 101/SC and BIA 101/ASE by Akern Srl, Firenze, Italy with the Bodygram 1.31 software and its equations by Akern Srl, Firenze, Italy). The analysis included validation of reproducibility of body composition assessment (fat, fat-free, body cell and muscle mass, water, extracellular water, and intracellular water content), and comparison of body composition for groups characterized by carbohydrate content <50% (n = 55) and >50% of the energy value of the diet (n = 45). Results: Analysis conducted using Bland–Altman method, analysis of correlation, analysis of quartile distribution, and weighted κ statistic revealed a positively validated reproducibility, but extracellular water associations were the weakest. Depending on the device, participants characterized by higher carbohydrate intake had significantly higher intracellular water content (p = 0.0448), or close to significantly higher (p = 0.0851) than those characterized by lower carbohydrate intake, whose extracellular water content was close to significantly lower (p = 0.0638) or did not differ. Conclusions: The long-term, moderately reduced, carbohydrate intake may cause the shift of intracellular water to the extracellular space and, as a result, influence the body composition results.

Impact of Follicular Menstrual Phase on Body Composition Measures and Resting Metabolism

“…In contrast, in the present study, there were no differences in ICF (MD ± SD, 0.06 ± 0.51 L), whereas another study demonstrated a significantly higher ICF during the follicular phase compared with the menstrual phase (MD, ~0.93 L) (16); this disparity may have been influenced by underlying technological differences in that multifrequency BIA devices are often limited to measuring impedance at 2–6 frequencies and using equations, while BIS more accurately measures impedance at infinite frequencies and uses a Cole Model to determine total and compartmental fluid content. In addition, a recent investigation observed that high carbohydrate intake is associated with higher intracellular water, which was not assessed in either the present study or the investigation by Mitchel and colleagues (16,18).…”

Predictive Roles of Basal Metabolic Rate and Body Water Distribution in Sarcopenia and Sarcopenic Obesity: The link to Carbohydrates

“…Combined with the previous results, it could give support for the mediating role of BMR between carbohydrates and SMI. A long-term reduction in carbohydrate intake may cause the transfer of ICW to the extracellular space, resulting in high ECW/ICW and ECW/TBW [ 42 ]. This could support the moderating effects of body water distribution on the indirect relationship between carbohydrates and SMI through BMR.…”

The National After-School Athletics Program Participation as a Tool to Reduce the Risk of Obesity in Adolescents after One Year of Intervention: A Nationwide Study

“…The measurements were taken by a professional dietitian using BIA 101/ASE (Akern Srl, Firenze, Italy). According to the commonly-applied rules, the measurements were obtained in the morning, in the fasting state (the last meal was to be consumed and the last beverage was to be drunk at least 8 h before the measurement), after a day when no excessive physical activity was performed; that is, no training was conducted on the previous day [45]. The measurements were taken after removing shoes and jewelry, and when the participants were in light underwear or sportswear with no metal elements.…”