RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Body composition of preterm infants during infancy
JF Archives of Disease in Childhood - Fetal and Neonatal Edition
JO Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
SP F188
OP F191
DO 10.1136/fn.80.3.F188
VO 80
IS 3
A1 D J Rawlings
A1 R J Cooke
A1 K McCormick
A1 I J Griffin
A1 K Faulkner
A1 J C K Wells
A1 J S Smith
A1 S J Robinson
YR 1999
UL http://fn.bmj.com/content/80/3/F188.abstract
AB AIMS To examine body composition in preterm infants. METHODS Body composition was measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) at hospital discharge, term, 12 weeks, and at 6 and 12 months corrected age in 125 infants (birthweight ⩽ 1750 g, gestational age ⩽ 34 weeks). RESULTS Body weight derived by DEXA accurately predicted that determined by conventional scales. In both sexes lean mass (LM), fat mass (FM), %FM, bone area (BA), bone mineral mass (BMM), and bone mineral density (BMD) increased rapidly during the study; significant changes were detectable between discharge and term. At 12 months, LM, BA, and BMM, but not FM, %FM, or BMD were greater in boys than in girls. Corrected for age, LM was less than those of the reference term infant; FM and %FM were similar; BMM was greater. Corrected for weight, LM was similar to those of the reference infant, while the FM and %FM of study infants were slightly greater. CONCLUSIONS DEXA accurately measures body mass. Body composition in preterm boys and girls differs. Interpretation of DEXA values may depend on whether age or body weight are regarded as the appropriate reference.