# Cell membrane capacitance relationship to reference-measured body composition parameters in young adult athletes

## TL;DR

This study explores how cell membrane capacitance relates to body composition in young athletes, finding stronger links with lean mass than fat mass.

## Contribution

The novel contribution is identifying the strong relationship between cell membrane capacitance and fat-free mass indicators in athletes.

## Key findings

- Men had significantly higher cell membrane capacitance than women.
- Cell membrane capacitance strongly correlates with fat-free mass index.
- Weaker relationships were found between cell membrane capacitance and fat mass.

## Abstract

Cell membrane capacitance (Cm) is considered a measure of cellular health. This study evaluated the relationship between bioimpedance spectroscopy-measured Cm and multicomponent model reference-measured body composition variables from air displacement plethysmography and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry in a sample of 226 young adult athletes. Men (3.00 ± 0.62 nF) had greater (p < 0.001) Cm than women (1.90 ± 0.36 nF). Variables indicative of lean mass, such as fat-free mass index, had a strong (r > .70) direct relationship with Cm. The Cm relationship was moderate for measures related to body mass and bone health (r = .30 to .60) and weak (r < .20) for fat mass. The relationship between Cm and body composition variables is strongest for the fat-free components.