Bioelectrical impedance analysis of the body composition of Nigerian children with calcium-deficiency rickets

Children with calcium-deficiency rickets experience increased urinary excretion of both essential and non-essential amino acids compared to non-rachitic children of the same age. Chronic wastage of amino acids into the mine could lead to a deficit in fat-free mass (FFM) in rachitic children. We therefore determined the FFM of children with calcium-deficiency rickets in northern Nigeria using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Because of the leg deformities present in the rachitic subjects, we calculated a 'corrected' height for each rachitic subject using the relationship between arm length and height in non-rachitic subjects over the same age range (r = 0.94), A total of 28 children (4 male and 24 female), 2-9 years of age with calcium-deficiency rickets and an equal number of age- and gender-matched controls were recruited into the study. Resistance and reactance measurements were obtained for all subjects and the total body water was calculated using age-specific equations. FFM was then calculated using age- and gender-specific hydration constants. No significant differences were found in the weights or FFM between the rachitic subjects and the controls (8.41 kg +/- 2.19 vs. 8.85 kg +/- 1.90, respectively). We conclude that chronic urinary wastage of amino acids by rachitic children does not result in a deficit in FFM.