Fluid distribution and cell integrity indicators evaluated by bioelectrical impedance in university athletes: comparison between team sports and individual sports.

The objective was to compare indicators of fluid distribution and cellular integrity in university athletes. Cross-sectional study with 167 university athletes (18-35 years), of team and individual sports. The bioimpedance was used to measure body water (TBW), intracellular water (ICW), extracellular water (ECW), ECW/ICW, impedance (Z), reactance (Xc), resistance (R), phase angle, body cell mass (BCM) and ECW/BCM at frequency 50khz. To measure lean soft tissue mass and body fat was used the dual-emission X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Sex, age, time of practice and type of modality were obtained by questionnaire. Individual male athletes presented higher values of ECW/ICW (means difference - MD=0.006, p=0.020) and ECW/BCM (MD=0.006, p=0.017) than team sports male athletes. Z (MD=24.988, p=0.009), Xc (MD=3.327, p=0.008) and R (MD=24.755, p=0.09) were higher in male athletes practicing team sports than individual sports. For the female team sports athletes presented higher values of Z (MD=32.029, p=0.015) and R (MD=31.987, p=0.015) than individual sports. It was concluded that ECW/ICW and ECW/BCM were higher in male athletes who practiced individual sports. For the Z, R and Xc values, the team sports presented higher values. For the female athletes who practiced team sports presented higher values of Z and R.