Use of fan beam dual energy X-ray absorptiometry to measure body composition of piglets

A piglet model was used to determine whether the fan beam dual energy X-ray absorptiometry technique (DXA) could be adapted for the measurement of body composition of small subjects. Commercial domestic swine piglets (n = 14) with weights between 1.95 and 21.1 kg had duplicate fan beam-DXA scans followed by chemical analysis of body composition. Each scan required 2-3 min to complete. DXA-measured total body weight was validated against scale weights of the piglets (with and without blanket and other covering), DXA bone mineral content validated against carcass ash and calcium, and DXA lean and fat mass validated against chemical lean and fat contents. Measurements from duplicate DXA scans were highly reproducible with adjusted r(2) values from 0.992 to 1.000. Each DXA measurement was highly predictive of the scale weight or specific chemical body composition with adjusted r(2) values from 0.974 to 0.999. The intraclass reliability coefficient among measurements from individual scans with scale weight or the weight of individual chemical components was extremely high at greater than or equal to0.99 for all comparisons. The SD of residuals for DXA prediction of scale weights (with and without covering) were 168 and 157 g, respectively, and were 27, 8.8, 122 and 72 g for the prediction of carcass ash, calcium, lean and fat tissue content, respectively. We conclude that rapid scan acquisition, accurate and precise prediction of scale weight and components of body composition would support the use of fan beam-DXA for body composition studies in growing humans or animals.