title: Body composition in children on regular hemodialysis.
abstract: Body composition was estimated in 12 pubertal and 7 pre-pubertal children (age range 7-17 years) on regular hemodialysis for chronic renal failure (CRF). The results were expressed as a ratio of observed/predicted. Total body water (TBW) was normal and extracellular water (ECW) was significantly increased in both groups. Intracellular water (ICW), which reflects body cell mass, was significantly decreased in the pre-pubertal children but not in the pubertal children. The deviation in ICW from predicted normal was significantly more marked in the prepubertal children compared with pubertal children. Similarly, fat-free solids (FFS) were significantly decreased in the pre-pubertal, but normal in the pubertal children. Total body fat, estimated from body water, correlated significantly with skinfold thickness measurements and was normal in both groups, with the pre-pubertal children having significantly higher body fat ratio than pubertal children. Body fat was increased in some of the patients whose body cell mass was decreased. It is suggested that these changes are the result of a failure of normal energy metabolism with consequent body protein depletion, and that energy supplements as carbohydrate, particularly in the pre-pubertal patients, will increase body fat without affecting cell mass.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001823:Body Composition; D001834:Body Water / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D005110:Extracellular Space / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011627:Puberty; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012737:Sex Factors; D012885:Skinfold Thickness; D014511:Uremia / Q000378:metabolism