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Indirect calorimetry: a tool to adjust energy expenditure in very low birth weight infants

Fernanda V M Soares1, Maria E L Moreira, Andrea D Abranches

  • 1Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.

Jornal De Pediatria
|November 15, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Very low birth weight infants exhibit a high resting metabolic rate, a key factor potentially contributing to malnutrition during hospitalization. This finding highlights the importance of monitoring energy expenditure in these vulnerable infants.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatalogy
  • Pediatric Nutrition
  • Metabolic Research

Background:

  • Very low birth weight (VLBW) infants are at high risk for malnutrition.
  • Accurate assessment of energy expenditure is crucial for optimizing nutritional support in VLBW infants.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To quantify the resting metabolic rate (RMR) in clinically stable VLBW infants.
  • To investigate the relationship between RMR and the incidence of malnutrition in VLBW infants.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study involving 29 stable VLBW infants receiving >100 kcal/kg/day enteral nutrition.
  • Resting energy expenditure (REE) was measured using open-circuit indirect calorimetry.
  • Malnutrition was defined by a weight-for-age z-score ≤ -2 SD.

Main Results:

  • The mean weight of infants was 1,564±393 g with a corrected gestational age of 35±3 weeks.
  • Malnutrition was prevalent, diagnosed in 62.1% of the preterm infants.
  • The mean resting metabolic rate was determined to be 57.01±7.76 kcal/kg/day.

Conclusions:

  • The observed high resting metabolic rate in VLBW infants is a significant component of their total energy expenditure.
  • This elevated RMR may play a critical role in the development of malnutrition during neonatal intensive care unit hospitalization.
  • Further research is warranted to explore strategies for managing high energy demands in VLBW infants to prevent malnutrition.
Abstract

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