Skinfold measurements in children with cystic fibrosis: monitoring fat-free mass and exercise effects.
Monitoring fat free mass (FFM), an indicator of nutritional status and a predictor of exercise performance in children, is particularly important in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). We assessed validity of the skinfold method for measuring FFM, and its changes with exercise training, in children with CF. A total of 14 children with moderately severe symptoms of CF (age 10-18 years) were followed longitudinally and measured three times, before (at 0 and 6 months) and after exercise training (at 12 months). Separately, single measurements were conducted in 12 children with mild symptoms of CF and in 13 healthy controls. FFM was calculated from four skinfold measurements, and compared with estimations from total body water measured with deuterium dilution. The FFM calculated from skinfolds was 1.7% (P < 0.05) and 3.3% (P < 0.005) higher than that estimated with deuterium oxide dilution in patients with CF and controls, respectively. Limits of agreement were similar in patients with moderate and mild symptoms and in controls. The measurements in patients with moderate symptoms showed similar bias and limits of agreement at 6 and 12 months as compared to 0 months. Changes in FFM measured with both methods were significantly correlated before exercise (r = 0.82, P < 0.0005), and after exercise training (r = 0. 60, P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
In children with cystic fibrosis, skinfold measurements are applicable to monitor fat free mass irrespective of clinical severity of the disease, and repeated measurements at intervals of 6 months are applicable to monitor changes in fat free mass during exercise training.
de Meer
K
K
Department of Gastroenterology, University Hospital for Children and Youth "Wilhelmina Kinderziekenhuis", Utrecht, The Netherlands. k.demeer@azvu.nl
Gulmans
V A
VA
Westerterp
K R
KR
Houwen
R H
RH
Berger
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D001823:Body Composition; D001835:Body Weight; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D003903:Deuterium; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012885:Skinfold Thickness; D016019:Survival Analysis
D003903:Deuterium