title: Altered body composition in preterm infants at hospital discharge.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test the hypotheses that body size is reduced and body composition altered in preterm infants at hospital discharge.
  
  
  METHODS
  Preterm infants (< or = 34 weeks gestation, < or = 1750 g at birth) were enrolled. Body weight, length and head circumference were converted to standard deviation or z-scores. Body composition was measured using dual emission X-ray absorptiometry. The results were analysed using standard statistics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and forty-nine infants (birth weight = 1406 +/- 248 g, gestation = 31 +/- 1.7 weeks) were studied. Postmenstrual age at discharge was 37 +/- 1.2 weeks. Z-scores for head circumference, weight and length differed (-0.1 +/- 0.6 > -1.4 +/- 0.6 > -1.9 +/- 0.6; p < 0.0001). Global fat-free mass was less in study infants than the reference infant at the same weight (2062 < 2252 g; p < 0.0001) or gestation (2062 < 2667 g; p < 0.0001). Global fat mass was greater in study infants than the reference infant at the same weight (307 > 198 g, 13 > 8%) or gestation (307 > 273 g; 13 > 9%; p < 0.0001). Changes in central fat mass closely paralleled those in global fat mass (r(2) = 0.76, p < 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Reduced linear growth and a reduced fat-free mass suggest that dietary protein needs were not met before discharge. A reduced fat-free mass coupled with an increased global and central fat mass echoes concerns about the development of insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome X in these high-risk infants.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, University of California Davis, Sacramento, California 95817, USA. richardjcooke@mac.com
authors: Richard J
authors: RJ
authors: Cooke
authors: Ian
authors: I
authors: Griffin
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000273:Adipose Tissue; D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D049628:Body Size; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000592:standards; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000254:growth & development*; D008297:Male; D010351:Patient Discharge; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012737:Sex Factors