[Evaluation of premature infants nutritional status by air plethysmography: first Russian prospective study]

In this article results of first Russian study on premature infants body composition in association with trend of their physical development within the first month and according to way of feeding. 30 preterm newborns without signs of intrauterine hypotrophy at birth with gestational age less than 35 month were examined by air body plethysmography. The infants were examined reaching term corrected age. Less levels of fat-free mass and increased percentage of fat were found in premature infants. The negative association between gestational age and the specific content of fat was found. This increases the risk of long-term metabolic diseases in preterm infants. It is found that preterm infants fed by fortified human milk have a more optimal body composition (less body fat levels) than infants fed by formula. The found consistent patterns confirm the necessity of supplying preterm infants with human milk for more adequate formation of plastic processes.