Food and fluid intake and hydration status does not affect ultrasound measurements of subcutaneous adipose tissue in active adults

Abstract

ObjectivesTo investigate the impact of acute food and fluid intake or hydration status on the standardised brightness-mode ultrasound measurement of subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness. DesignThirty active adults (female n = 10) participated in a randomised cross over study. MethodsParticipants completed three body composition assessment sessions via standardised brightness-mode ultrasound and Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Participants were assessed under standardised presentation during ‘food only’ and ‘food plus water’ sessions at baseline and reassessed after their allotted intake. ‘Hypohydration plus water’ was undertaken in a hypohydrated state at baseline and reassessed after water intake. ResultsThe sum of eight subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness was lower when measured after ‘food only’ or ‘food plus water’ compared to baseline (−0.1 to −0.9 mm; p < 0.01). However, these changes were less than the 95% confidence interval of the technical error of measurement of the investigator. Body mass, dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry total and trunk mass, lean mass and trunk lean mass estimates increased (p < 0.01) following ‘food only’ or ‘food plus water’, and decreased with hypohydration (p < 0.01). Total and regional fat mass estimates were not impacted. ConclusionsThe sum of eight subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness measured via standardised brightness-mode ultrasound was unaffected by acute food and fluid consumption or hydration status changes. Comparatively, these interventions altered dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry body composition estimates, especially that of lean mass components. Standardised brightness-mode ultrasound can therefore be used to monitor changes in fat patterning when standardised client presentation is not practically achievable.