Abstract

Background: Bioimpedance vector analysis (BIVA) is a widely used method based on the interpretation of raw bioimpedance parameters to evaluate body composition and cellular health in athletes. However, several variables contribute to influencing BIVA patterns by militating against an optimal interpretation of the data. This study aims to explore the association of morphological characteristics with bioelectrical properties in volleyball, soccer, and rugby players. Methods: 164 athletes belonging to professional teams (age 26.2 ± 4.4 yrs; body mass index (BMI) 25.4 ± 2.4 kg/m2) underwent bioimpedance and anthropometric measurements. Bioelectric resistance (R) and reactance (Xc) were standardized for the athlete’s height and used to plot the vector in the R-Xc graph according to the BIVA approach. Total body water (TBW), phase angle (PhA), and somatotype were determined from bioelectrical and anthropometric data. Results: No significant difference (p > 0.05) for age and for age at the start of competition among the athletes was found. Athletes divided into groups of TBW limited by quartiles showed significant differences in the mean vector position in the R-Xc graph (p < 0.001), where a higher content of body fluids resulted in a shorter vector and lower positioning in the graph. Furthermore, six categories of somatotypes were identified, and the results of bivariate and partial correlation analysis highlighted a direct association between PhA and mesomorphy (r = 0.401, p < 0.001) while showing an inverse correlation with ectomorphy (r = −0.416, p < 0.001), even adjusted for age. On the contrary, no association was observed between PhA and endomorphy (r = 0.100, p = 0.471). Conclusions: Body fluid content affects the vector length in the R-Xc graph. In addition, the lateral displacement of the vector, which determines the PhA, can be modified by the morphological characteristics of the athlete. In particular, higher PhA values are observed in subjects with a high mesomorphic component, whereas lower values are found when ectomorphy is dominant.

Highlights

  • In recent years, the bioimpedance vector analysis (BIVA) has been widely used in the sports field for the assessment of body composition and cellular health in athletes [1]

  • The bioimpedance vector analysis (BIVA) has been widely used in the sports field for the assessment of body composition and cellular health in athletes [1]. This is because Bioimpedance vector analysis (BIVA) is not subject to errors related to prediction equations since it interprets the raw bioimpedance values [resistance (R)

  • As the content of total body fluids is greatly associated with the vector, correct discrimination in the R-Xc graph based on somatotype categories may be compromised

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Summary

Introduction

The bioimpedance vector analysis (BIVA) has been widely used in the sports field for the assessment of body composition and cellular health in athletes [1]. The vector length is inversely proportional to TBW, while the lateral displacements of the vector are directly correlated with the ICW/ECW ratio [17,18,19,20] In addition to these body composition variables, Campa et al [21] have recently suggested that the somatotype influences vector position in the R-Xc graph, where athletes with higher mesomorphic and endomorphic components are positioned more to the lower-left than athletes with a dominant ectomorphy. Bioimpedance vector analysis (BIVA) is a widely used method based on the interpretation of raw bioimpedance parameters to evaluate body composition and cellular health in athletes. This study aims to explore the association of morphological characteristics with bioelectrical properties in volleyball, soccer, and rugby players

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