Skinfold Thickness Measurement in Term Nigerian Neonates: Establishing Reference Values

Area of Science:

• Neonatal anthropometry
• Pediatric body composition analysis
• Public health nutrition

Background:

• Skinfold thickness (SFT) measurement is a reliable, inexpensive, and noninvasive method for estimating body fat across all age groups, including neonates.
• Establishing normative data for SFT in specific populations is crucial for accurate growth assessment and health monitoring.
• Previous studies have highlighted the need for localized reference values for neonatal anthropometry.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine reference values for biceps, triceps, subscapular, and suprailiac skinfold thickness measurements in term Nigerian newborns.
• To provide sex-specific data for neonatal SFT to aid in clinical assessment.
• To establish a baseline for future longitudinal studies on infant growth and development in Nigeria.

Main Methods:

• A prospective, cross-sectional study was conducted over six months (December 2010 - May 2011) involving healthy, term neonates (37-41 weeks gestation).
• Skinfold thickness measurements were taken within 48 hours of birth at four sites (triceps, biceps, subscapular, suprailiac) using Harpenden skinfold calipers.
• The mean of two readings was recorded for each site, and anthropometric data including birth weight were collected.

Main Results:

• A total of 1,168 neonates were studied, with a mean birth weight of 3259 ± 470g. Male neonates had a significantly higher mean birth weight than females (p < 0.0001).
• Female neonates exhibited higher mean values for triceps, subscapular, and suprailiac skinfold thickness (p < 0.001), while males had a higher mean biceps SFT (p = 0.008).
• Females showed higher mean values for the sum of all four SFTs and the sum of truncal SFTs across all gestational age strata.

Conclusions:

• Sex-specific percentile charts for skinfold thickness measurements in Nigerian newborns were developed.
• These charts can effectively identify deviations from the reference population, aiding in the early detection of infants at risk for nutritional or health problems.
• Prompt intervention can be instituted for infants identified with potential health risks based on these SFT reference values.