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Updated: Aug 11, 2026
Non-invasive Optical Measurement of Cerebral Metabolism and Hemodynamics in Infants
Published on: March 14, 2013
Oxygen consumption and resting energy expenditure during phototherapy in full term and preterm newborn infants
1Department of Paediatrics, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong. taifaifok@cuhk.edu.hk
Insights
Phototherapy does not significantly alter oxygen consumption or resting energy expenditure in newborn infants. This finding applies to both term and preterm infants, indicating no impact on metabolic rate.
Area of Science:
- Neonatalogy
- Pediatric Metabolism
- Therapeutic Technologies
Background:
- Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia is common and often treated with phototherapy.
- Understanding the metabolic impact of phototherapy is crucial for infant care.
- Previous research has not definitively established phototherapy's effect on infant metabolic rates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of phototherapy on oxygen consumption.
- To assess the effect of phototherapy on resting energy expenditure in neonates.
- To compare metabolic parameters during phototherapy versus a control period in term and preterm infants.
Main Methods:
- A randomized crossover study involving 202 infants (30-42 weeks gestation) treated for hyperbilirubinemia.
- Indirect calorimetry was used to measure oxygen consumption and resting energy expenditure.
- Measurements were taken after 6 hours of phototherapy and after a control period, with controlled abdominal wall temperature.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in oxygen consumption or resting energy expenditure were observed between phototherapy and control periods.
- Heart rate, respiratory rate, and rectal temperature also showed no significant changes.
- Subgroup analyses in preterm infants (<37 and <34 weeks gestation) confirmed these findings.
Conclusions:
- Phototherapy does not affect the metabolic rate of thermally stable term and preterm infants.
- The use of phototherapy for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia does not alter key metabolic indicators.
- Clinical management of neonatal jaundice with phototherapy can proceed without concerns regarding metabolic rate changes.
Objectives:
To determine the effect of phototherapy on the oxygen consumption and resting energy expenditure of term and preterm newborn infants.
Methods:
A total of 202 infants (gestation 30-42 weeks; body weight 1270-4100 g) requiring phototherapy for the treatment of neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia were enrolled in a randomised crossover study. In random sequence, the oxygen consumption and resting energy expenditure were measured twice in each infant by indirect calorimetry, once at the end of six hours of continuous phototherapy and once after a control period of at least six hours without phototherapy. Anterior abdominal wall temperature was servocontrolled at 36.5 degrees C throughout the study.
Results:
At the end of six hours of continuous phototherapy, oxygen consumption (mean (SD): 6.21 (1.35) v 6.26 (1.51) ml/kg, p = 0.555) and resting energy expenditure (178.11 (37.62) v 180.37 (43.14) kJ/kg/24 h, p = 0.382) did not differ significantly from those measured after the control period. There were also no significant differences in heart rate, respiratory rate, or rectal temperature. Subgroup analysis of those of gestation < 37 weeks or < 34 weeks also showed no effect of phototherapy on either oxygen consumption or resting energy expenditure.
Conclusion:
Phototherapy has no effect on the metabolic rate of thermally stable term or preterm infants.
