Comparison between Ages of the Body Composition in the Limbs as a Related Factor of Conduction Heat / 日本温泉気候物理医学会雑誌

ABSTRACT

The composition of human body can be divided into five levels (atomic, molecular, cellular, tissue, and body). The objective of this study is to examine the changes with age in total body water (TBW) and fat mass (FM), which are conductive factors in the body, on the tissue level. The subjects of this study consisted of 476 healthy energetic adults living in Aomori Prefecture, Japan (146 males and 330 females). The total and partial body water and fat mass were measured by segmental bioelectrical impedance analysis. The following results were obtained after adding examination of changes in body composition with age.<br>1. Both males and females in their 30s showed the highest values of fat-free mass (FFM) and TBW; those in their 60s showed the highest values of %FAT and FM.<br>2. TBW, a thermal-conduction-promoting factor, was higher in males, and FM, thermal-conduction-inhibiting factor, was higher in females.<br>3. TBW in the extremities, especially in the lower extremities, tended to decrease with age both in males and females.<br>4. TBW in the extremities associated with the conductivity of a warm bath was higher in the lower extremities, so understanding TBW in the lower extremities can be considered very important when determining the applicability of warm bathing.