QDR 4500A dual-energy X-ray absorptiometer underestimates fat mass in comparison with criterion methods in adults
Open accessAbstract
Background Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) has become one of the most frequently used methods for estimating human body composition. Although the DXA technique has been validated for the measurement of fat-free mass and fat mass, differences in calibration between instruments produced by different manufacturers, as well as between different models produced by the same manufacturer, have been reported.Objective The objective was to compare the calibration of the QDR 4500A against criterion methods in a large heterogeneous population.Design DXA-derived body-composition data were obtained from 7 studies: 6 data sets were provided by the investigators, one of which was published. The data included fat mass and fat-free mass measured with a QDR 4500A and criteria measurements of body composition from total body water by dilution at 4 centers, densitometry from 1 center, and four-compartment analysis at 2 centers.Results In the cohort of 1195 subjects, 602 men and 593 women aged 19-82 y with a body mass index (in kg/m2) of 16-44, the fan-beam DXA overestimated fat-free mass (P < 0.05). A significant difference was observed in all 7 data sets, and the mean (+/-SE) was 5 +/- 1%.Conclusions It is recommended that the lean soft tissue mass estimate with the fan-beam QDR 4500A be reduced by 5% and that for fat mass be increased by that same mass. This finding is particularly important because the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey is using the QDR 4500A to assess body composition in a nationally representative sample of persons in the United States.
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Differences in intra- and inter-manufacturer DXA estimates are small.
“Studies have shown that the differences in intraand inter-manufacturer estimates are small (11,14 -16).”
From Comparison of Body Composition Methods in Obese African‐American Women (2006) · cites this paper as [15]
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- Authors
- Schoeller, D. A., Tylavsky, F. A., Baer, D. J., Chumlea, W. C., Earthman, C. P., Fuerst, T., Harris, T. B., Heymsfield, S. B., Horlick, M., Lohman, T. G., Lukaski, H. C., Shepherd, J., Siervogel, R. M., & Borrud, L. G.
- Affiliations
- University of Wisconsin–Madison (US)
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US)
- Corresponding author
- Schoeller, Dale A
- ORCID
- Venue
- The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2005-05
- Volume
- 81
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 1018-1025
- ISSN
- 0002-9165 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1915371381
- Cited by
- 253
- References
- 51
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 21 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 14 · 2014: 15 · 2013: 24 · 2012: 13
- FWCI
- 6.19
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health (n01ag002106-019)
- National Institute on Aging (N01-AG- 2106, N01-AG-6-2102, N01-AG-62103)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Body Composition Measurement Techniques
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Bone health and osteoporosis research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Emergency Medicine › HIV-related health complications and treatments
- Keywords
- dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, fat mass, fat-free mass, body composition, measurement error, calibration, densitometry, lean soft tissue mass
- MeSH terms
- Adipose Tissue, Adult, Aged, Body Composition, Body Water, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Nutrition Surveys, United States, Reproducibility of Results, Absorptiometry, Photon
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