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Energy expenditure in neonates with Down syndrome

Jacqueline Bauer1, Ulrike Teufel, Corinna Doege

  • 1Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 150, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany. Jacqueline_Bauer@med.uni-heidelberg.de

The Journal of Pediatrics
|September 13, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Infants with Down syndrome have lower resting energy expenditure. This study found that newborns with Down syndrome burned 14% fewer calories than healthy newborns during their first week of life.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatology
  • Genetics
  • Metabolism

Background:

  • Down syndrome is a genetic condition associated with various health challenges.
  • Neonatal metabolic rate is crucial for growth and development.
  • Understanding energy expenditure in newborns with Down syndrome is important for nutritional management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To measure and compare resting energy expenditure (REE) in term neonates with Down syndrome and healthy neonates.
  • To identify potential metabolic differences in early life.

Main Methods:

  • Resting energy expenditure was measured using indirect calorimetry.
  • The study included term neonates diagnosed with Down syndrome and a control group of healthy neonates.
  • Measurements were conducted during the first week of life.

Main Results:

  • Neonates with Down syndrome exhibited a significantly lower resting energy expenditure compared to healthy controls.
  • Specifically, infants with Down syndrome expended 14% fewer calories than their healthy counterparts.
  • This suggests a reduced metabolic rate in the neonatal period for infants with Down syndrome.

Conclusions:

  • Term neonates with Down syndrome have a lower resting energy expenditure in the first week of life.
  • This finding has implications for understanding the energy needs and nutritional support for infants with Down syndrome.
  • Further research is warranted to explore the long-term metabolic consequences.

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