title: Anthropometric and laboratory assessment of very low birth weight infants: the most helpful measurements and why.
abstract: Very low birth weight (VLBW; < or =1500 g), preterm infants have numerous physiological and developmental concerns, including growth and the provision of adequate nutrients to sustain growth. Growth is an important health care outcome measure for VLBW infants. Provision of energy and nutrients at levels to support growth and development is the goal of nutrition support for VLBW infants. Anthropometry and laboratory data are useful components of growth and nutrition assessment. The objectives of this paper are to describe: 1) the clinical application and interpretation of anthropometric measures of growth, and 2) the utilization and interpretation of laboratory tests of nutritional status in VLBW infants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84106, USA. laurie.moyer-mileur@hsc.utah.edu
authors.forename: Laurie J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Moyer-Mileur
mesh_terms: D000886:Anthropometry; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight / Q000097:blood* / Q000254:growth & development*; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D009752:Nutritional Status