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Changes in fat distribution in children following severe burn injury

Pavankumar Patel1, Hanaa S Sallam, Arham Ali

  • 11 Department of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas Medical Branch , Galveston, Texas.

Metabolic Syndrome and Related Disorders
|September 12, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Severe pediatric burn injuries alter body fat and inflammation for months post-discharge. These changes may increase risks for type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease in children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric critical care
  • Metabolic disorders
  • Burn injury research

Background:

  • Severe burn injuries in children cause lasting metabolic issues like inflammation and insulin resistance.
  • These abnormalities may elevate the long-term risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and cardiovascular disease (CVD).
  • Changes in body composition and fat distribution are implicated in these metabolic alterations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate changes in body composition, fat distribution, and inflammatory cytokines in pediatric burn survivors.
  • To assess these changes up to 6 months after hospital discharge.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 97 children (62 boys, 35 girls) with severe burn injuries (≥30% total body surface area) were studied.
  • Body composition, fat distribution, and serum inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-10) were measured up to 6 months post-discharge.

Main Results:

  • A significant decrease in total body fat (6%) and peripheral subcutaneous fat (2%) was observed at 6 months post-discharge.
  • A decrease in peripheral fat correlated inversely with burn extent.
  • Systemic inflammation persisted, with a 12% increase in TNF-α and a 9% decrease in IL-10 at 6 months compared to discharge levels.

Conclusions:

  • Severe burn injury in children leads to persistent alterations in body fat content and distribution.
  • These body composition changes, coupled with ongoing systemic inflammation, may explain the persistence of insulin resistance.
  • This metabolic profile predisposes pediatric burn survivors to future T2DM and CVD.
Abstract

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