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Body composition changes in preterm infants following hospital discharge: comparison with term infants

Sara E Ramel1, Heather L Gray, Katie L Ode

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA. sramel@umn.edu

Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition
|May 24, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Preterm infants show lower fat-free mass and higher body fat at term corrected age, but these differences normalize by 3-4 months corrected age. Early illness impacts post-discharge growth in preterm infants.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal physiology
  • Pediatric nutrition
  • Body composition analysis

Background:

  • Infants undergoing catch-up growth prioritize fat deposition over lean body mass.
  • Understanding body composition differences between preterm and term infants is crucial for optimizing growth outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare body composition between preterm and term infants post-hospital discharge.
  • To investigate the influence of gestational age, birth size, nutrition, and illness on fat-free mass (FFM) growth in preterm infants after hospitalization.

Main Methods:

  • Air displacement plethysmography and anthropometric measurements were used.
  • 26 appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) preterm and 97 AGA term infants were studied.
  • Assessments were conducted at term corrected age (CA) and 3-4 months CA.

Main Results:

  • At term CA, preterm infants had significantly lower FFM and higher body fat percentage compared to term infants.
  • By 3-4 months CA, significant differences in weight, length, body fat, and FFM between the groups had resolved.
  • Gestational age, inpatient nutrition, and illness were associated with FFM at 4 months CA in preterm infants.

Conclusions:

  • Initial deficits in FFM and excess adiposity in preterm infants at term CA diminish by 3-4 months CA.
  • While early nutrition influences hospital growth, post-discharge growth in preterm infants is affected by early illness, suggesting non-nutritional factors may play a role.
  • Disturbances in the growth hormone axis could influence body composition trajectories in preterm infants.
Abstract

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