Body composition during normal pregnancy: reference ranges
Abstract
Maternal body composition undergoes a deep adaptative change during the course of pregnancy. Fat mass, fat-free mass, and total body water (TBW) increase in different ways and their effects on pregnancy outcome represent a field of major interest in perinatal medicine. The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in maternal body composition [maternal weight, TBW, intracellular water (ICW) and extracellular water (ECW)] during healthy pregnancy by using bioimpedance analysis (BIA). A total of 170 healthy pregnant women, aged 22-44 years, volunteered to participate in our study. The BIA measurements were carried out with a Tefal BIA scale determining resistance and reactance. Lukaski's multiple-regression equation was used to estimate TBW and ICW and ECW were computed using the prediction formula of Segal. The evaluations were performed at 10-38 weeks' gestation, every 3-4 weeks, and hematocrit was determined at every time interval. Analysis of variance and multiple comparisons of Bonferroni were performed to compare variables among the different study intervals. Second-order polynomial interpolation was used to obtain percentile values for each bioimpedance parameter. Percentile bioimpedance values of the healthy population are provided at each study time, by showing the mean value and the 5th, 25th, 75th, 95th percentiles. Moreover, normal reference ranges for TBW are provided for each gestational age, in relation to maternal weight gain. Reactance, TBW, and ICW enhance…
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Compared to prior longitudinal BIA studies in healthy pregnant cohorts, which were often limited by small single-center sample sizes or lacked rigorous post hoc complication screening, the multicenter design and strict exclusion criteria ensured that these curves reflected a highly reliable physiological baseline.
“Compared to prior longitudinal BIA studies in healthy pregnant cohorts, which were often limited by small single-center sample sizes or lacked rigorous post hoc complication screening [25-27], our multicenter design and strict exclusion criteria ensured that these curves reflected a highly reliable physiological baseline.”
From Trimester-Specific Bioelectrical Impedance Reference Curves in Physiological Pregnancy: Mapping Maternal Body Composition and Hydration Trajectories (2026) · cites this paper as [26]
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References 22 · Cited by 97
- Authors
- Larciprete, G., Valensise, H., Vasapollo, B., Altomare, F., Sorge, R., Casalino, B., De Lorenzo, A., & Arduini, D.
- Affiliations
- Fatebenefratelli Hospital (IT)
- University of Rome Tor Vergata (IT)
- Corresponding author
- Larciprete, G.
- Venue
- Acta Diabetologica
- Published
- 2003-10
- Volume
- 40
- Issue
- S1
- Pages
- s225-s232
- ISSN
- 0940-5429 (ISSN-L)
- 1432-5233
- OpenAlex
- W2090537153
- Cited by
- 97
- References
- 22
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 7
- FWCI
- 0.38
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Acta Diabetologica (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Cineca Institutional Research Information System (Tor Vergata University) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Body Composition Measurement Techniques
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Obstetrics and Gynecology › Gestational Diabetes Research and Management
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Obstetrics and Gynecology › Pregnancy and preeclampsia studies
- Keywords
- maternal body composition, pregnancy, total body water, intracellular water, extracellular water, fat mass, fat-free mass, bioelectrical impedance analysis, reference values, gestational weight gain, hemodilution, reactance
- MeSH terms
- Adipose Tissue, Body Composition, Body Water, Body Weight, Female, Gestational Age, Humans, Pregnancy, Reference Values, Weight Gain, Electric Impedance
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