Association of local bioimpedance analysis of the abdominal region with morphological and biochemical traits

Quantification of the subcutaneous and visceral fat depot in the abdominal region is a promising method to assess individual risk of cardiometabolic disorders and estimate the efficacy of certain drugs. The local bioimpedance analysis (BIA) represent a new promising method for separate quantification of two fat depots in the abdominal region. The method combines high accuracy, low cost, and noninvasiveness. The study was aimed to analyze the relationships between the impedance estimates obtained in the local BIA lead and the complex of anthropometric and biochemical characteristics in males and females. A total of 147 females and 42 males aged 18–73 years were assessed. To estimate subcutaneous fat, we used the local BIA lead (АВС-02 Medass) in accordance with the earlier proposed electode placement scheme. Local impedance (Z50sc, Ohm) was recorded using the АВС-02 Medass software. The correlation analysis revealed significant correlations of Z50sc with the waist-to-height ratio, insulin concentration, body fat percentage, and HOMA-IR. Markers of the risk of cardiometabolic diseases (abdominal obesity, insulin resistance, and body fat percentage) are associated with the increased Z50sc values. The results of ROC analysis with the insulin resistance index (AUC 0.79 [0.72; 0.84], p < 0.000) make it possible to consider Z50sc a promising marker of the risk of cardiometabolic diseases. The differences between subgroups are confirmed by both statistical significance and large effect size.