Comparison of whole body bone mineral density measurement between dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and novel foot-to-foot bioelectrical impedance analyzer

Bone mineral density (BMD) is a crucial indicator of osteoporosis. Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) introduces a new capability for assessing body composition, specifically BMD measurement. This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of the novel BIA in conducting whole-body BMD tests in the general population of Taiwan. Altogether, 318 healthy adults in Taiwan (age, 37.67 ± 19.44 years; 145 male and 173 female patients) were included. Whole-body BMD was measured using foot-to-foot BIA-StarBIA201 (StarBIA Meditek Co. LTD, Taichung, Taiwan) and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) Lunar Prodigy (GE Medical Systems, Madison, WI, USA). Linear regression analysis, Pearson's correlation coefficient, Bland–Altman Plot, and paired t-test were used. Whole body BMD measured by BIA and DXA was 1.139 ± 0.124 g/cm ² and 1.202 ± 0.168 g/cm ² , respectively. The regression equation was y = 1.057x + 0.063. The Pearson correlation coefficient, mean difference, and limits of agreement were r  = 0.737, − 0.053 g/cm ² , and − 0.290–0.165 g/cm ² , respectively. Standing BIA was correlated with the DXA gold standard for estimating whole-body BMD in adults; however, their interchangeability remains limited. The convenient BIA method for measuring whole body BMD may be useful in the application of primary screening and future development of BMD assessment methods.