Biompedance Analysis

Bioelectrical impedance analysis is the study of the electrical properties of biological material and its change over conductance and time. This includes humans, animals, fish, plants, vegetables, fruits and anything living which has the cell as the basis of life.

BIA studies cell health. BIA provides us information about nutrition, cellular sodium/potassium balance and thus the state of anergy vs. energy (Gerson), pre-cancerous states, defective nutrition, lymphedema, etc.

Electrical properties of cells and tissues have been described since 1871. The first breakthrough in electrocardiology was made by the Dutch scientist Willem Einthoven, who in 1903 developed series string galvanometers that he used to build the first EKG machine. Before Einthoven, scientists were aware that the heart produced electrical signals, but they had no way of recording them without attaching electrodes directly to the heart. The electrocardiogram uses electrodes on the surface of the body to measure the electrical activity of the heart. It is possible to place electrodes on the body surface and measure cardiac potentials because the body acts as a volume conductor of the electrical currents generated by the heart. The conducting medium of the body's fluids extends continuously; it is three-dimensional and referred to as a volume conductor. Electrical conduction is throughout the body, is measureable in terms of volts and amperage, and shows capacitance (voltage storage) which is localized to cellular membranes and the skin. Whenever a current source is applied to the body via the skin, the action potential spreads throughout the body and can be meausred at any two points.

About BIA

The most popular and publicly well-known are the studies using the Body Mass Index (BMI) as a single parameter indicating the degree of obesity (or slimness). However it cannot tell anything about the body composition. This fact means that 180cm, 90kg sports man and 180cm, 90kg lazy man can have the same BMI. The BMI is the same but just at glance we can tell who is healthier. Because of that body composition is very important, with values of body composition it is easier to predict and treat diseases connected with obesity and illness.

BIA proper is the clinical assessment of tissue and fluid compartments in the human body. Simply explained, BIA measures the impedance or resistance of an electrical current as it travels through the body's water that is found in muscle and fat. A normal distribution of tissue and fluid in the body is associated with high immunological function and longevity. Healthy cells can store energy and have high phase angles whereas unhealthy cells have low phase angles. A body that stores energy easily has high reactance and a body that stores energy poorly has low reactance. Reactance is a measure of the cells' ability to store energy.

What is parallel capacitance

All living things are made of cells. Cells are membrane bound compartments filled with a concentrated solution of chemicals, nutrients, elements, and salts. Groups of cells perform specialized functions and are linked by an intricate communications system.

The cell membrane maintains an ion concentration ‘gradient’ between the intracellular (internal cell/cytoplasm) and extracellular (external) environment. This electromotive gradient [in pico Farads] known as Parallel Capacitance, is the electrical potential difference across the membrane that is essential to cell survival.

The Parallel Capacitance is responsible for efficient support transfer of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and elements in and out of the cell. The higher the capacitance, the more efficient the cellular metabolism.

Parallel capacitance is not affected by weight or body fat. It is a measure of cell membrane health and can change dramatically depending on disease or health. As cells take on nourishment and vitality progressing toward health, their parallel capacitance increases. Inversely, as cells lose their energy and vitality, their capacitance goes down.

A body builder, for example, would have a high parallel capacitance and low resistance, or more cell volume, because he is extremely muscular and fit. A malnourished AIDS patient would have a low parallel capacitance due to lower muscle density.

Increasing Capacitance

Any protocols and/or supplements that progress the body’s health will show an increased body capacitance. This is one of the great features of BIA, to prove what we're prescribing is actually going to the cell, not down the toilet! Inversely, any substances that decrease the capacitance need elimination for the dietary. The BIA instrument provides these data points. The more data points the greater ability to make an accurate hypothesis that can best assist the client.

Typically, as we get older, cells lose their natural ability to expand - and start to shrink, in part due to the loss of intra-cellular water as well as the loss of cellular Zeta Potential. Zeta-potential is the ability of a molecule to hold an electrical charge. The electric potential of a cell is its life force. When the Zeta Potential of a cell is increased, the cells become stronger and more active. If you practice nutrition, your bottom line is Zeta Potential.

When a cell’s electrical potential is reduced to zero the cell disintegrates, ferments, and either dies or mutates. When the electrical potential of a cell is reduced, progressive weakness and illness may occur. A person's electrical potential may be lowered by loss of blood or fluids, excessive emotional stress, accidents, lack of sleep, lingering infections, toxins, and an unbalanced diet. But more importantly, a person’s electric potential is dependent on zeta factors from the diet.

For example, when a person is detoxifying or going through a life change that can ultimately lead to a major shift in health and capacitance. These are some of the actions that will lower capacitance before a breakthrough [shift] that will raise it. Patterns and trends can be recorded by BIA analysis. Generally, a fair increase in capacitance takes weeks to months of strict diet and lifestyle change. We however, have discovered a miraculous Z-Factor nutrient complex that can shift and raise these values very quickly, within hours.

Parallel Capacitance

All living things are made of cells. Cells are membrane bound compartments filled with a concentrated solution of lipids, chemicals, nutrients, elements, and salts. Groups of cells perform specialized functions and are linked by an intricate communications system. The cell membrane maintains an ion concentration ‘gradient’ - zeta potential - between the intracellular (internal cell/cytoplasm) and extracellular (external) environment. This electromotive gradient [measured in pico Farads] known as Parallel Capacitance, is the electrical potential difference across the membrane that is essential to cell survival. The Parallel Capacitance is responsible for efficient support transfer of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and elements in and out of the cell. The higher the capacitance, the more efficient the cellular metabolism.

Parallel capacitance is not affected by weight or body fat. It is a measure of cell membrane health and can change dramatically depending on disease or health. As cells take on nourishment and vitality progressing toward health, their parallel capacitance increases. Inversely, as cells lose their energy and vitality, their capacitance goes down.
A body builder, for example, would have a high parallel capacitance and low resistance, or more cell volume, because he is extremely muscular and fit. A malnourished AIDS patient would have a low parallel capacitance due to lower muscle density.

Phase Angle Measurement

Phase angle is an indicator of cellular health and integrity. Usually, a phase angle of 6 or greater is desired for men and 5 or greater is desired for women. Research on humans has shown that the relationship between phase angle and cellular health is increasing and nearly linear. A low phase angle is consistent with an inability of cells to store energy and an indication of breakdown in the selective permeability of cellular membranes and a deficiency of Z-Factors. Low phase angles are associated with reduced survival times in patients with cancer and cirrhosis of the liver. Patients with abnormally low and borderline phase angles have clearly reduced survival times. Phase angle is a marker of clinically relevant malnutrition.

Higher phase angles appear to be consistent large quantities of intact cell membranes and body cell mass. Cell membranes have a high lipid content of Omega-3 fatty acids and therefore this reading gives an indication of your cell lipid status. A high phase angle is consistent with large quantities of intact, healthy cell membranes and body cell mass.

Phase angle is good indicator of disease progression although it is not used to diagnose a specific disease. It may be thought of as a thermometer with a broad range of normal. It may also be used to monitor the practice of good health, which would include healthy diets, the use nutritional supplements and exercise.

Parallel capacitance is somewhat like phase angle, whereas it is not effected by weight or body fat. It is a measure of cell membrane health in all living substances and can change dramatically depending on disease or good health.

ECW (Extra Cellular Water)

ECW represents all of the fluid that exists outside of cellular structures and circulates throughout the body carrying sodium, chloride, bicarbonate ions and nutrients. ECW exists and flows within lymph tissues, blood vessels, the gastrointestinal tract, intestines, interstitial spaces, and also in the spinal fluid. Normal ECW for males is 40% of total body water and 50% for women. High ECW indicates edema (water retention). Low ECW indicates
dehydration.


ICW (Intracellular Water)

ICW represents all the fluid that is contained inside the cellular membrane. ICW accounts for approximately two-thirds of total body water and also is composed of more K+ ions than extracellular water. Muscle and organ cells contain more ICW fluid than do fat cells; therefore, if a patient’s muscle mass increases, you can expect an increase in intracellular water.

Basal Metabolic Rate

Metabolism occurs in two distinct and interdependent phases: 1.) catabolism, in which the body breaks down food into its component parts and harvests the energy stored in its atomic bonds, and 2.) anabolism, in which those component parts and energy are used to build new tissues and conduct basic life functions. Metabolic Rate (BMR) is the amount of energy your body requires every day to perform its most basic function including:

1. Breathing
2. Digesting
3. Heart beating
4. Muscles activity
5. Transportation of fluids and tissue
6. Circulation of blood

BMR is a representation of the amount of energy you would require if you laid in bed all day without ever moving a single muscle. Since most of us do a bit more than that, a daily activity level must also be factored in. BMR is only a way to estimate how fast you burn calories. The slower your metabolism, the more difficult it will be to lose weight. If you burn your daily calorie intake, you will maintain your current weight. Burning more than your daily intake causes weight loss.

There are many factors that vary your metabolism. However, exercise and daily activity level are keys to increasing your BMR. There can be major nutritional consequences to the decline of the BMR in advanced age. Decreased caloric requirements may lead to decreased food intake. Sufficiently low caloric intake can lead to deficient intake of essential nutrients. The more lean tissue, specifically body cell mass, the higher the BMR.

Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) Energy Levels

Above 2124 Extreme energy
1809-2123 High Energy
1597-1808 Average energy
1387-1596 Below average
1176-1386 Low average
below 1175 Warning

Conclusion

Increasing evidence indicates that altered body composition, as seen with obesity, diabetes, and cancer is a consequence, at least in part, of nutritional, environmental and lifestyle changes that result in early changes in body composition as measured by BIA. Given these associations between health and body composition, BIA represents a primary tool for assessing the trajectory of health of the individual and should be a component of every patient evaluation. Longitudinal studies of a patient’s body composition over time by BIA is an invaluable tool in personalized a program to the individual needs of the patient.