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Technology and clinical studies
Spectroscopic bioimpedancemetry (BIS)
Scientific precision for your dispensary
Spectroscopic bioimpedancemetry (BIS) is a body composition analysis technique based on the electrical properties of biological tissues.
Unlike conventional single-frequency bioimpedance, BIS is based on a broad spectrum (1-1000 kHz), and does not use a deductive method. deductive method based on based on population averages: each measurement is individual and specific, without extrapolation from age, gender or standard indices such as BMI.
Body composition, beyond weight and BMI
Modern clinical monitoring can no longer be limited to weight and body mass index (BMI). These two simple measurements provide no information on the actual distribution of body compartments. A "normal" BMI may mask sarcopenia or undernutrition, while a high BMI does not distinguish fat overload from high muscle mass.
The 5-compartment modelling used in VitaScan offers a much more detailed and relevant reading:
- Body fat
- (LF)Lean mass
- (MM)Water
- intracellular (ICW)
- Extracellular water (ECW)
- Bone mineral content (BMC)
This compartmentalized monitoring can reveal imbalances invisible through weight alone. For example, muscle loss masked by fluid retention in a person suffering from heart failure.
Understanding the technology behind VitaScan
Physical principle and models used
The principle is as follows.
A very low-intensity (approx. 70 μA), totally painless alternating current flows through the body's various tissues via four source electrodes placed on the hands and feet. The current flows mainly through the most conductive tissues, such as water, electrolytes and muscles, while less low-frequency conductive tissues, such as fat mass, cell membranes and skin, are more resistant to it. This is bioimpedance.
A voltage is measured at the receiving electrodes. This voltage is broken down into two components:
- Resistance (R) corresponds to the resistance of tissues to current flow, essentially non-conductive elements.
- Reactance (X) Reflects the capacitive effect of cell membranes, which act as true capacitors.
The combination of these two values forms the impedance (Z), which varies according to the frequency applied.
The measurements collected are transformed into physiological indicators using several complementary models:
- Generalized Ohm's law (U = Z × I) to link voltage and current.
- Mixed model (spectroscopic impedance) analyses impedance evolution over the entire frequency spectrum.
- Empirical model (regression equations) used to refine certain clinical correlations.
- Biophysical model (Cole circuit): graphic representation of tissue behavior, integrating resistance and membrane capacity.
Why does multi-frequency change everything?
The spectroscopic bioimpedancemetry (BIS) uses a frequency spectrum from 1 to 1000 kHz, unlike single-frequency bioimpedance, which is often limited to 50 kHz. A wider frequency spectrum enables more accurate measurement of the indicators:
- Low frequencies (1-50 kHz) The current does not pass through the cells, and measures only extracellular water (ECW).
- High frequencies (up to 1000 kHz) High frequencies: electrical charges have no time to accumulate on membranes: the current penetrates cells via ion channels, enabling assessment of both intra- and extracellular water (ICW + ECW).
The combination of these data makes it possible to evaluate data with an accuracy impossible to achieve with a single frequency:
- the water distribution,
- the cellular vitality (via phase angle),
- l'hydration of non-fat mass,
- and overall overall metabolic health.
A new generation of impedance meters: non-deductivity
Most impedance meters on the market operate on the deductive principle. deductive principle electrical measurements (resistance, reactance) are integrated into regression equations, calibrated on "normo-hydrated" population cohorts. These equations introduce major biases as soon as the patient deviates from the average: obesity, undernutrition, renal insufficiency, cardiovascular pathologies.
Lean body mass can therefore be overestimated in a sarcopenic sarcopenic who has water retention, for example.
The technology developed by Bioparhom and used in VitaScan is based on a non-deductive approach :
- Each compartment (tissue and water) is measured independently, without the use of fixed coefficients.
- The equations used are not generic, but have been clinically validatedby comparison with reference methods (DEXA for tissue masses, Xitron for water volumes).
- L’erreur moyenne est réduite à <3,5 %, ce qui confère à ces mesures une robustesse suffisante pour être utilisées en suivi médical longitudinal.
Such technology actually measures physiological compartments, with an accuracy adapted to the most complex patients, rather than making an estimate. .
What clinical parameters does VitaScan provide?
Solid clinical evidence
Assessment of Food Intake Assisted by Photography in Older People Living in a Nursing Home: Maintenance over Time and Performance for Diagnosis of Malnutrition
Billeret A., Rousseau C., Thirion R., Baillard-Cosme B., Charras K., Somme D., & Thibault R. - Nutrients, 2023, vol. 15, no 3, p. 646
Implementation of new undernutrition criteria: variability of coding factors and consequences
Berera T., Chiarot C., Grandjean F., Gorcy S. - JFN, 2022, book of abstracts, p. 163
L’impédancemétrie dans une population d’anorexique mentale: développement d’un outil validé pour une population avec IMC < 18 ?
Ronin C. et Fontaine E. – Nutrition Clinique et Métabolisme, 2020, vol. 34, no 1, p. 40
Sustainable modification of lifestyle habits through physical activity in the fight against obesity in adults: presentation of the feasibility protocol
Dumoulin C., Reynes E., and Berthouze S. - Obésité, 2017, vol. 12, no. 4, p. 291-296
New method for quantifying total water volume in the obese subject
Moreno M.-V., Coux M.-N., Cornet E., Goyard E. - JFN, 2016
Total albumin index: nutritional marker of albumin pool variations in clinical practice
Picot D., Bollart A.-S., Layec S., et al - Nutrition Clinique et Métabolisme, 2016, vol. 30, no. 2, p. 115
Validation of a Hypgnomagnetiism method for thinning
Ribbe E., Vannicatte A., Moreno M.-V. - Gazz Med Ital-Arch SCI Med, 2015; 174:1-2;3112-GMI
Optimizing nutritional strategy with body composition
Coux M.-N., Ribbe E., Moreno M.-V. - Nutrition Clinique et Métabolisme, 2014, vol. 28 (supplement), p. S90-91
Optimizing nutritional strategy through body composition
Coux M.-N., Ribbe E., Moreno M.-V. - Intelligent Health & Preventive Medicine International Symposium, Tangier, June 2014
Body composition differences between healthy, obese and anorexic children
Dassonville Y., Ribbe E., Moreno M.-V., Clarion A., Malcor S. - ICEBI, Procedia, 2013, p. 207
A phase 2 randomized trial to evaluate the impact of a supervised exercise program on cardiotoxicity at 3 months in patients with HER2 overexpressing breast cancer undergoing adjuvant treatment by trastuzumab: design of the CARDAPAC study
Jacquinot Q., Meneveau N., Chatot M., et al. BMC Cancer, 2017, vol. 17, no. 1, p. 425
Comparison of two methods of body composition (BC) assessment in patients followed for cancer: multi-frequency impedancemetry (BIS) and CT image analysis
Hollebecque A., Cousin S., Ribbe E., Moreno M.-V., Clarion A., Varga A., Soria J.-C., Antoun S. Nutrition Clinique et Métabolisme, 2012, vol. 26, S54
Loss of lean body mass and hydration are independent predictors of loss of autonomy. A multicenter study has shown that BIS monitoring can be used to adapt SSR management and reduce prolonged hospitalization.
(Turk S et AL., Variation in weight, body composition/phase angle and grip strength during the first 3 weeks of hospitalization in geriatric SSR. Multicenter prospective study, 2022)
Variation in weight, body composition/phase angle and grip strength during the first 3 weeks of hospitalization in geriatric SSR. Prospective multicenter study
Turk S., Bouillanne O., Petiot L., Aussel C., Levy P., Forasassi C. Nutrition Clinique et Métabolisme, 2022, vol. 36, no 1, p. S47
GNRI, variation in body composition and mortality in elderly subjects hospitalized in geriatric SSR
Petiot L., Levy P., Bouillanne O., Aussel C., Turk S., Forasassi C. Journées Francophones de Nutrition, 2021, P109
Effects of a home-based physical activity incentive and education program in subacute post-stroke patients on 6-minute walk test performance
Chaparro D. PhD Thesis, University of Limoges, 2018
Description of physiological aging process and detection of malnutrition through the study of body composition determined by bioimpedance
Portail A., Ribbe E., Coux M.-N., Moreno M.-V. Gazzetta Medica Italiana Archivio per le Scienze Mediche, 2017, vol. 176, no. 7-8, pp. 369-376
Evolution of body composition with age according to bioimpedance
Moreno M.-V., Ribbe E., Portail A. 2ᵉ Symposium International Neutraceutique et Environnement Santé, 2011
Assessment of muscle ageing and the value of physical activity
Moreno M.-V., Ribbe E., Rebeyrol J., Khider N., Portail A. 2ᵉ International Symposium Neutraceuticals and Environment Health, 2011
In dialysis patients, BIS helps adjust dry weight with a better correlation to actual fluid overload. *
In chronic renal failure, it enables early detection of water imbalances. **
* Bataille, S., et Al, (2017). The diagnosis of sarcopenia is mainly driven by muscle mass in hemodialysis patients.
** Florent Guerville, Composition corporelle estimée par bio-impédancemétrie spectroscopique au cours de la maladie rénale chronique stade 3 à 5; thèse médecine, 2014
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Myostatin and Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 Are Biomarkers of Muscle Strength, Muscle Mass, and Mortality in Patients on Hemodialysis
Delanaye P., Bataille S., Quinonez K., et al. Journal of Renal Nutrition, 2019
The diagnosis of sarcopenia is mainly driven by muscle mass in hemodialysis patients
Bataille S., Serveaux M., Carreno E., et al. Clinical Nutrition, 2017, vol. 36, no 6, p. 1654-1660
Haemodialysis patients with diabetes eat less than those without: A plea for a permissive diet
Bataille S., Landrier J.-F., Astier J., et al. Nephrology, 2017, vol. 22, no. 9, pp. 712-719
Prevalence and diagnostic approach to sarcopenia in the chronic hemodialysis patient
Bataille S., Serveaux M., Robert A. Nephrology & Therapeutics, 2016, vol. 12, no. 5, p. 267-268
The Complicating Effects of Patient Limb Position on the Development of a Localised Impedimetric-Based Hydrational Index for the Remote Monitoring of Home-Based Dialysis Patients
Montalibet A., Arkouche W., Franco P., Bogonez, et al. IRBM, 2016, vol. 37, no 2, p. 58-67
Plasma 25-OH vitamin D concentration independently correlates with muscle strength in hemodialysis patients
Bataille S., Landrier J.-F., Astier J., et al. Nephrology & Therapeutics, 2015, vol. 11, no. 5, p. 323
The "Dose-Effect" Relationship Between 25-Hydroxyvitamin D and Muscle Strength in Hemodialysis Patients Favors a Normal Threshold of 30 ng/mL for Plasma 25-Hydroxyvitamin D
Bataille S., Landrier J.-F., Astier J., et al. Journal of Renal Nutrition, 2016, vol. 26, no. 1, p. 45-52
Body composition estimated by spectroscopic bioimpedancemetry during stage 3 to 5 chronic kidney disease
Guerville F. Thesis of Medicine, DUMAS-00968205, 2014
Fat-free mass at admission predicts 28-day mortality in intensive care unit patients: the international prospective observational study Phase Angle Project
Thibault R., Makhlouf A.-M., Mulliez A., et al. Intensive Care Medicine, 2016, vol. 42, no. 9, pp. 1445-1453
Accuracy of water compartment measurement by bioimpedancemetry during a filling test in intensive care: a prospective observational study
Champion S., Dewitte A., Carles P., Joannes-Boyau O., Megret F., Fleureau C., Ouattara A. 42nd Congress of French Language Resuscitation, 2013
Decreased phase angle measured by bioimpedance is associated with mortality and severity of illness in the ICU
Thibault R., Perbet S., Wang Z., Pereira B., Cano N., Constantin J.-M. Nutrition Clinique et Métabolisme, 2012, vol. 26, S48
Cardiac repercussions of adolescent weight disorders: Evaluation of left ventricular mechanics and myocardial work
Paysal J. Doctoral thesis, University of Avignon
Effect of individualized coaching at home on walking capacity in subacute stroke patients: A randomized controlled trial (Ticaa'dom)
Mandigout S., Chaparro D., Borel B., et al. Annals of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, 2021, vol. 64, no 4, p. 101453
Bioelectrical impedance analysis for heart failure diagnosis in the ED
Genot N., Mewton N., Bresson D., Zouaghi O., Francois L., Delwarde B., Kirkorian G., Bonnefoy-Cudraz E. The American Journal of Emergency Medicine, 2015, vol. 33, no. 8, p. 1025-1029
Impact d'un programme d'éducation thérapeutique du patient à l'activité physique chez des patients en phase subaiguë d'accident vasculaire cérébral
Kammoun B. Doctoral thesis, University of Limoges
Mobile telemedicine unit serving emergency and chronic care
Moreno M.-V., Chauvet P., Ly O. Intelligent Health & Preventive Medicine International Symposium, Tangier, June 2014
Detection and localization of internal hemorrhaging using electrical impedance
Morse J., Fenech M. Journal of Physics, Conference Series, 2013, vol. 434
Used in emergency departments, BIS has demonstrated its value in the non-invasive diagnosis of heart failure.
Cardiac Remodeling and Its Determinants in Anorexia Nervosa Adolescents: Impact of Weight Recovery
Paysal J., Thireau J., Terral D., Rochette E., Obert P., Merlin E., & Nottin S. Children, 2022, vol. 9, no 4, p. 458
Left Ventricular Strains and Myocardial Work in Adolescents With Anorexia Nervosa
Paysal J., Merlin E., Terral D., Chalard A., Rochette E., Obert P., & Nottin S. Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine, 2022, vol. 9
Cardiac repercussions of adolescent weight disorders: Evaluation of left ventricular mechanics and myocardial work
Paysal J. Doctoral thesis, University of Avignon
Effect of individualized coaching at home on walking capacity in subacute stroke patients: A randomized controlled trial (Ticaa'dom)
Mandigout S., Chaparro D., Borel B., et al. Annals of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, 2021, vol. 64, no 4, p. 101453
Bioelectrical impedance analysis for heart failure diagnosis in the ED
Genot N., Mewton N., Bresson D., Zouaghi O., Francois L., Delwarde B., Kirkorian G., Bonnefoy-Cudraz E. The American Journal of Emergency Medicine, 2015, vol. 33, no. 8, p. 1025-1029
Impact d'un programme d'éducation thérapeutique du patient à l'activité physique chez des patients en phase subaiguë d'accident vasculaire cérébral
Kammoun B. Doctoral thesis, University of Limoges
Mobile telemedicine unit serving emergency and chronic care
Moreno M.-V., Chauvet P., Ly O. Intelligent Health & Preventive Medicine International Symposium, Tangier, June 2014
Detection and localization of internal hemorrhaging using electrical impedance
Morse J., Fenech M. Journal of Physics, Conference Series, 2013, vol. 434
Integrate VitaScan into your pharmacy workflow today!
- Train the pharmacy team to read the main indicators (MCA, phase angle, ECW/ICW).
- Target priority patients: chronic pathologies, post-surgical follow-up, frail elderly.
- Combine the measurement with a pharmacist's consultation and advice on dietary hygiene, food supplements, phytotherapy or aromatherapy.
- Set up regular quarterly or half-yearly follow-ups to monitor changes in patient data.
