Bionutrition
Equipment to Assess Bone Mass, Bone Density and Body Composition
We provide imaging techniques and equipment to assess bone mass, bone density and body composition of humans. We also work closely with the Bionutrition Research Facility to help investigators obtain research-quality nutrition and body composition data.
Equipment
DXA provides a two-dimensional measurement of:
- Total body bone mass
- Lean and fat mass
- Regional bone mass and density
We use Hologic QDR-4500A densitometers (Hologic Inc., Bedford, MA) to perform DXA scans on both clinical and research patients. Scans available include whole body, AP lumbar spine, lateral spine, proximal femur or hip, forearm and distal femur.
We have the latest software (Apex) from Hologic Inc. for scan analysis and an FDA-approved pediatric reference database. The software includes a new “auto low density” mode for analyses of spine, hip and whole body scans. This new analysis mode uses lowered thresholds at which the algorithms determine bone and soft tissue to account for smaller body sizes. The analysis program automatically determines which threshold to use based on the body size it detects. This allows for a more accurate and reliable assessment of pediatric bone density and body composition.
Additionally, we have high-power whole-body software to be used in people over 250 pounds. This allows for more accurate analysis of lean and fat tissue in larger body sizes but also increases the radiation exposure by a factor of three for total body scans.
We operate a Stratec XCT 2000 pQCT (Orthometrix, White Plains, NY) that measures volumetric bone mineral density (BMD) and cross-sectional bone dimensions at peripheral skeletal sites in the radius and tibia.
The three-dimensional pQCT allows for selective measurement of:
- Biomechanical strain strength indices
- Bone area
- Cortical area and thickness
- Cortical and trabecular bone density
- Muscle cross-sectional area
- Periosteal and endosteal circumference
The Bionutrition Research Facility has a metabolic research kitchen for preparing and delivering meals for feeding studies or food challenges. Study recipes and menus are designed by a registered dietitian and can be controlled for selected nutrients, calories, food types or other factors, depending on the research needs.
Participants can be free-living and pick up pre-packaged meals to take home, or they can be fed from the kitchen during an extended outpatient stay.
The kitchen is also designed for nutrition education including cooking classes or demonstrations for study populations. Non-research use can be arranged on a case-by-case basis.
Measuring Energy Expenditure
The Bionutrition Research Facility owns and operates an indirect calorimeter (Vmax Encore 29N, Viasys) for measurement of resting energy expenditure, or calories burned by individuals in a rested, fasted state. This method can also detect substrate utilization, i.e. the body’s use of carbohydrates or fat for fuel. We can also measure the thermic effect of food, or additional calories burned following a known quantity of energy and nutrient intake.
Contact Us
For more information, email suzanne.summer@cchmc.org or call 513-636-2734.
3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229-3026
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