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Updated: May 8, 2026
Non-invasive Optical Measurement of Cerebral Metabolism and Hemodynamics in Infants
Published on: March 14, 2013
Exploratory study of the relationship of fat-free mass to speed of brain processing in preterm infants
Katie M Pfister1, Heather L Gray, Neely C Miller
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Insights
Higher fat-free mass (FFM) in preterm infants is linked to faster brain processing speeds. This suggests protein status is crucial for neurodevelopment in premature babies, impacting brain growth and function.
Area of Science:
- Neonatalogy
- Neurodevelopmental Pediatrics
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Preterm infants face risks of long-term neurodevelopmental impairment due to postnatal nutritional status.
- Despite adequate weight gain, preterm infants exhibit altered body composition (lower fat-free mass, higher adiposity) compared to term infants.
- The link between postnatal body composition and brain processing speed in preterm infants remains unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between postnatal body composition and neuronal processing speed in preterm infants.
- To determine if body composition metrics correlate with visual pathway development in this population.
Main Methods:
- Air displacement plethysmography was used to assess body composition in 16 preterm infants at term and 4 months corrected gestational age (CGA).
- Pattern-reversal visual evoked potentials (VEP) were used to evaluate visual pathway development at 4 months CGA.
- P100 peak latency served as the primary measure for neuronal processing speed.
Main Results:
- Increased fat-free mass (FFM) at discharge and 4 months CGA was significantly associated with shorter P100 latencies (faster processing).
- No significant relationship was found between P100 latency and total body weight, fat mass, or body fat percentage.
- These findings highlight FFM as a key indicator of neurodevelopmental outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Higher FFM, reflecting better protein accretion, is linked to faster neuronal processing speed in preterm infants.
- This association suggests that adequate protein status positively influences brain growth, neuronal differentiation, and overall neurodevelopment.
- FFM is a critical marker for assessing neurodevelopmental potential in preterm infants.
Background:
Preterm infants are at risk for long-term neurodevelopmental impairment as a function of postnatal nutritional status. Despite adequate neonatal weight gain, preterm infants have altered body composition, with lower fat-free mass (FFM) and higher adiposity at term corrected gestational age (CGA) than their term counterparts. The relationship between postnatal body composition and speed of brain processing in preterm infants is unknown.
Methods:
Anthropometric measurements and body composition testing via air displacement plethysmography were performed on 16 appropriate-for-gestational age (GA) preterm (mean GA: 30.4 ± 2.8 wk) infants at term and 4 mo CGA. Infant visual pathway development was assessed at 4 mo CGA using pattern-reversal visual evoked potential (VEP); P100 (positive peak) latency was used to index neuronal speed of processing.
Results:
Increased FFM at discharge (P = 0.02) and 4 mo CGA (P = 0.006) was associated with shorter latencies to the P100 peak. P100 latency was not related to total body weight, fat mass, or body fat percentage.
Conclusion:
FFM reflects protein accretion and indexes growth of organs, including the brain. The association of shorter VEP latency (i.e., faster neuronal processing) with higher FFM (i.e., better protein status) may be attributed to the positive effects of protein status on neuronal growth and differentiation.
