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INTRODUCTION Normal ageing involves variations of body mass and composition (1-3) that expose elderly individuals to the risk of protein-energy malnutrition (4) and have a role in the pathogenesis of [...], This review is directed to define the efficacy of bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA) for assessing two- compartment body composition. A systematic literature review using MEDLINE database up to 12 February 2014 was performed. The list of papers citing the first description of BIVA, obtained from SCOPUS, and the reference lists of included studies were also searched. Selection criteria included studies comparing the results of BIVA with those of other techniques, and studies analyzing bioelectrical vectors of obese, athletic, cachectic and lean individuals. Thirty articles met the inclusion criteria. The ability of classic BIVA for assessing two-compartment body composition has been mainly evaluated by means of indirect techniques, such as anthropometry and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). Classic BIVA showed a high agreement with body mass index, that can be interpreted in relation to the greater body mass of obese and athletic individuals, whereas the comparison with BIA showed less consistent results, especially in diseased individuals. When a reference method was used, classic BIVA failed to accurately recognize FM% variations, whereas specific BIVA furnished good results. Specific BIVA is a promising alternative to classic BIVA for assessing two-compartment body composition, with potential application in nutritional, sport and geriatric medicine. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2014) 68, 1234-1240; doi:10.1038/ejcn.2014.170; published online 20 August 2014