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Blood myo-inositol concentrations in preterm and term infants
Luc P Brion1, Dale L Phelps2, Robert M Ward3
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA. luc.brion@utsouthwestern.edu.
Insights
Fetal and infant myo-inositol levels decrease with increasing gestational age. Enteral feeding in infants significantly increases myo-inositol blood concentrations compared to unfed infants.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal nutrition
- Biochemistry
- Pediatric research
Background:
- Myo-inositol is a vital nutrient for fetal and infant development.
- Understanding myo-inositol levels is crucial for assessing infant health and nutritional status.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between fetal myo-inositol concentrations and gestational age (GA).
- To track blood myo-inositol trends in enterally and parenterally fed infants from birth to 70 days.
Main Methods:
- Collected 441 samples from 281 infants born in 2005-2006.
- Analyzed myo-inositol concentrations using linear regression models.
- Displayed data using scatter plots.
Main Results:
- Cord blood myo-inositol decreased by 11.9% per week of GA.
- Postnatal myo-inositol decreased by 14.3% per week of postmenstrual age (PMA).
- Enterally fed infants had 51% higher myo-inositol levels than unfed infants.
Conclusions:
- Fetal myo-inositol concentrations decline with advancing gestational age.
- Postnatal myo-inositol levels decrease with increasing postmenstrual age.
- Enteral nutrition positively impacts infant myo-inositol levels.
Objective:
To describe relationship between cord blood (representing fetal) myo-inositol concentrations and gestational age (GA) and to determine trends of blood concentrations in enterally and parenterally fed infants from birth to 70 days of age.
Design/Methods:
Samples were collected in 281 fed or unfed infants born in 2005 and 2006. Myo-inositol concentrations were displayed in scatter plots and analyzed with linear regression models of natural log-transformed values.
Results:
In 441 samples obtained from 281 infants, myo-inositol concentrations varied from nondetectable to 1494 μmol/L. Cord myo-inositol concentrations decreased an estimated 11.9% per week increase in GA. Postnatal myo-inositol concentrations decreased an estimated 14.3% per week increase in postmenstrual age (PMA) and were higher for enterally fed infants compared to unfed infants (51% increase for fed vs. unfed infants).
Conclusions:
Fetal myo-inositol concentrations decreased with increasing GA. Postnatal concentrations decreased with increasing PMA and were higher among enterally fed than unfed infants.

