Lean mass and fat mass accretion between term age and 6 months post-term in growth-restricted preterm infants

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Nutrition
• Neonatology
• Growth and Development

Background:

• Early growth restriction in preterm infants can lead to later adiposity and metabolic disease.
• Nutritional interventions aim to optimize growth trajectories post-birth.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare growth, body composition, and nutritional intake in preterm infants with and without early growth restriction.
• To assess the impact of accelerated postnatal growth on body composition in term-age and 6-month post-term infants.

Main Methods:

• Study included 83 appropriate-for-gestational-age preterm infants with growth restriction (AGA GR+), 15 AGA without growth restriction (AGA GR-), and 33 small-for-gestational-age (SGA) preterm infants.
• Growth, body composition (lean mass and fat mass), and nutritional intake were monitored from term age to 6 months post-term.

Main Results:

• AGA GR+ and SGA preterm infants exhibited higher protein and energy intake compared to AGA GR- infants.
• These groups also showed a greater gain in weight SDS between term and 6 months post-term.
• Despite higher intake, AGA GR+ and SGA infants had similar lean mass but lower fat mass at 6 months post-term compared to AGA GR- infants.

Conclusions:

• Accelerated postnatal growth in preterm infants with early growth restriction can lead to restored lean mass.
• This catch-up growth does not appear to result in excessive fat mass accumulation in the first six months post-term.
• Findings suggest a potentially favorable body composition trajectory for AGA GR+ and SGA preterm infants under nutritional support.