title: Sexual dimorphism in relation to adipose tissue and intrahepatocellular lipid deposition in early infancy.
abstract: Sexual dimorphism in adiposity is well described in adults, but the age at which differences first manifest is uncertain. Using a prospective cohort, we describe longitudinal changes in directly measured adiposity and intrahepatocellular lipid (IHCL) in relation to sex in healthy term infants. At median ages of 13 and 63 days, infants underwent quantification of adipose tissue depots by whole-body magnetic resonance imaging and measurement of IHCL by in vivo proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Longitudinal data were obtained from 70 infants (40 boys and 30 girls). In the neonatal period girls are more adipose in relation to body size than boys. At follow-up (median age 63 days), girls remained significantly more adipose. The greater relative adiposity that characterises girls is explained by more subcutaneous adipose tissue and this becomes increasingly apparent by follow-up. No significant sex differences were seen in IHCL. Sex-specific differences in infant adipose tissue distribution are in keeping with those described in later life, and suggest that sexual dimorphism in adiposity is established in early infancy.
authors.affiliation: Section of Neonatal Medicine, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital Campus, Imperial College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: C
authors.identifier: 000000030707876X
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gale
authors.affiliation: Section of Neonatal Medicine, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital Campus, Imperial College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Logan
authors.affiliation: Section of Neonatal Medicine, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital Campus, Imperial College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jeffries
authors.affiliation: Section of Neonatal Medicine, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital Campus, Imperial College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: J R C
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Parkinson
authors.affiliation: Section of Neonatal Medicine, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital Campus, Imperial College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Santhakumaran
authors.affiliation: Section of Neonatal Medicine, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital Campus, Imperial College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Uthaya
authors.affiliation: Robert Steiner MRI Unit, Hammersmith Campus, Imperial College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Durighel
authors.affiliation: Radiology Department, St Mary's Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alavi
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, University of Westminster, London, UK.
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, University of Westminster, London, UK.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.affiliation: Section of Neonatal Medicine, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital Campus, Imperial College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Modi
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000473:pathology*; D050154:Adiposity; D005260:Female; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D039401:Prenatal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012727:Sex Characteristics
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids