Total body water volumes for adult males and females estimated from simple anthropometric measurements

Abstract

Individual total body water volumes for 458 adult males and 265 adult females obtained from dilution studies, together with their height, weight, and age have been selected from the literature. These values were used to derive total body water prediction equations for adults of any age. The equations that gave the best fit were for males: total body water = 2.447 − 0.09516 A + 0.1074 height + 0.3362 weight (liters) (yr) (cm) (kg) (SD: 3.76, r²: 70.4%) and for females: total body water = −2.097 + 0.1069 height + 0.2466 weight (liters) (cm) (kg) (SD: 3.60, r²: 73.6%) Numerous other linear regression equations to predict total body water from anthropometric measurements have been reported in the literature. Most apply only to restricted age groups. These, and the equations from the present study were tested on completely independent data. In all cases the equations from the present study gave the best overall results, though for women one equation designed for a specific age group, gave for that age group a marginally better fit.