Analysis of body water compartments after a short sauna bath using bioelectric impedance analysis.

Studies have suggested that long-term sauna bathing may lower blood pressure in persons with hypertension by causing a direct loss of extracellular water and plasma minerals. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of short-term sauna bathing on body water compartments as estimated by bioelectric impedance analysis (BIA). We recruited 15 men [mean age (+/-SD) of 23.93+/-5.12 years and mean body mass index (BMI) of 23.25+/-2.84 kg/m(2)] and 10 women matched for age and BMI. Total body resistance, reactance, and impedance were measured for all participants using BIA, at baseline, after a short sauna bath, and after a rest period. Total, extracellular, and intracellular water compartments were calculated using BIA formulae. There were no significant differences for any of the body water compartments when comparing the measurements taken before and after the sauna bath and after the rest period. However, it remains to be determined whether or not BIA is sensitive to rapid changes in water volume.

A comparative analysis of body water compartments for Egyptian patients with Schistosoma mansoni infection.

In light of reports that schistosomiasis is associated with alterations in nutritional status, and considering that the assessment of body composition and water spaces is important for nutritional and hydration management, we conducted a study to evaluate the reproducibility of estimates of total body water, extracellular water, and intracellular water for Egyptians with Schistosoma mansoni infection using various bioelectric impedance analysis (BIA) formulae in comparison with reference values obtained using dilution techniques. The estimates obtained using the various formulae varied from the reference values, representing either overestimates or underestimates. These differences were attributed to possible limitations inherent to the mathematical formulae, including the fact that they are population specific. These results stress the need to develop universal formulae for estimating body water compartments which would include race and pathology as independent parameters, in addition to BIA and anthropometric variables.