Abstract
There is a linear relationship between extracellular fluid and body surface area in man. During growth the body cell mass, fat-free solids, and body fat proportions of body weight increase while the extracellular fluid fraction decreases. Growth stops in men as soon as the body cell mass reaches 22.5 kg/m2 body surface area and in women when it reaches 16.9 kg/m2. The non-muscle cell mass and the muscle cell mass reach a 1:4 ratio in men whereas in women a 1:3.5 proportion—which is more favorable for pregnancy and lactation—is reached. The body composition of the newborn and the infant have fetal characteristics with a low body fat: surface area ratio and a low non-muscle cell mass: surface area ratio. The basal metabolic rate depends on the amount of non-muscle cell mass present, and the total energy change depends on body cell mass.
This has been established by measurements of total body potassium, thiosulfate space, total body sodium, 24 h urine creatinine values and basal metabolic rate.
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Abbreviations
- BCM:
-
body cell mass (kg)
- BF:
-
depot fat (kg)
- Cr:
-
creatinine in urine (g/day)
- ECF:
-
extracellular fluid (kg)
- EFFS:
-
extracellular fatfree solids (kg)
- H:
-
height (cm)
- ICF:
-
intracellular fluid (kg)
- L:
-
length (cm)
- LBM:
-
lean body mass (kg)
- n :
-
number of cases investigated
- MCM:
-
muscle cell mass (kg)
- nMCM:
-
non-muscle cell mass (kg)
- SA:
-
surface area (m2)
- TBK:
-
total body potassium (mmol)
- TBNa:
-
total body sodium (mmol)
- TBW:
-
total body water (kg)
- W:
-
body weight (kg)
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Dedicated to Prof. Dr. H. R. Wiedemann on occasion of his 65th birthday
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Burmeister, W. Human body composition as related to surface area. Eur J Pediatr 135, 147–151 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00441633
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00441633