In this MEDICA-tradefair.com interview, Professor Kristina Norman talks about different methods for measuring body composition, identifies their limitations and specifies where further research is needed.
Professor Norman, what is the current state of technology in body composition measurement in geriatrics? How do these techniques work?
Prof. Kristina Norman: That’s is not an easy question to answer since body composition includes different compartments and therefore several assessment methods. Experts can use diagnostic imaging techniques such as MRI and CT scans to measure muscle mass for example. They are considered the gold standard for muscle mass measurement because they are more accurate than indirect methods such as bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) for example. It is considered an indirect method because it only captures impedance, i.e., the effective resistance to alternating current, and subsequently measures the distribution of conductive tissue – tissue that is rich in water and electrolytes -, and non-conductive tissue such as body fat for example. A major challenge of BIA is to yield a valid and accurate percentage of muscle mass. We only measure resistance, put it in relation to body and weight and subsequently try to calculate the proportional percentage of muscle mass using statistical analysis and algorithms. ...
Read the complete interview with Prof. Kristina Norman at MEDICA-tradefair.com!