Distal versus proximal electrode placement in the prediction of total body water and extracellular water from multifrequency bioelectrical impedance.

In 48 normal weight subjects, 25 females and 23 males, body impedance was measured at multiple frequencies. Two different electrode placements were used, one the commonly used distal electrode placement, in which the source electrodes are on the dorsal sides of the hand and foot and the sensor electrodes are on ankle and wrist, and a second placement, in which the sensor electrodes are placed more proximally, at the knee and elbow. Theoretically a proximal electrode placement could result in more precise estimates of body water compartments. Total body water (TBW) and extracellular water (ECW) were determined using deuterium oxide dilution and bromide dilution, respectively. The aim of the study was to investigate whether proximal electrode placement results in a more precise estimation of TBW and ECW using multifrequency impedance analysis. Correlation coefficients of impedance and the impedance index stature2 /impedance) with TBW and ECW were not or were only slightly higher using proximal impedance values, resulting in slight improvement of the estimation error for TBW (0.13 kg) and ECW (0.04 kg). The differences between measured and predicted values (residuals) of TBW and ECW were not correlated with TBW and ECW, but they were correlated with body fat and body water distribution (ECW/TBW). These correlations did not differ between distal and proximal impedance measurements. It is concluded that proximal impedance measurements do not substantially improve the prediction of body water compartments. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.