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Body adiposity and oral feeding outcomes in infants: a pilot study
Sreekanth Viswanathan1,2, Erika Osborn3,4, Sudarshan Jadcherla3,4
1Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Nemours Children's Hospital, University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Orlando, FL, USA. sreekanth.viswanathan@nemours.org.
Insights
High body fat in infants is linked to poorer oral feeding. This study found infants with feeding difficulties had significantly higher fat mass, suggesting adiposity impacts oral intake and growth.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Infant Development
- Clinical Pediatrics
Background:
- Oral feeding difficulties are rising in high-risk infants.
- Hunger and satiety influence oral intake, potentially affecting infant growth and body composition.
- Understanding factors influencing oral feeding is crucial for infant well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between body adiposity and oral feeding in infants.
- To explore how body fat percentage relates to the ability of infants to feed orally.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective case-control study compared infants reliant on tube feeding (cases) with those on full oral feeding (controls).
- Infants were matched for birth gestation and postmenstrual age (PMA) of at least 37 weeks.
- Body composition, specifically fat mass, was assessed using air displacement plethysmography.
Main Results:
- Infants with oral feeding difficulties (cases) exhibited significantly higher body fat percentage (18.7% vs. 10.9%) and fat-mass z-scores compared to controls.
- Despite similar PMA, weight, and calorie intake, cases consumed significantly less orally (66 vs. 168 ml/kg/day).
- Five infants in the case group ultimately required gastrostomy tubes for nutrition.
Conclusions:
- Increased body adiposity in infants may be associated with poorer oral feeding outcomes.
- Higher fat mass could negatively impact an infant's ability to feed orally.
- Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms linking adiposity and feeding challenges.
Background:
Prevalence of oral feeding difficulties in high-risk infants is increasing. Desire to take orally can be influenced by hunger and satiety, which may influence growth and body fat.
Objective:
To determine the association between body adiposity and infant oral feeding.
Methods:
Retrospective case-control study of infants ≥37-week postmenstrual age (PMA). Infants on tube feeding (cases) compared to birth gestation-matched infants on full oral feeding (controls). Body composition was determined by air displacement plethysmography.
Results:
Overall, 16 cases vs. 16 controls. At study, cases vs. controls had similar PMA, weight and length z-scores, and calorie intake. The mean oral intake was significantly less in cases vs. controls (66 vs. 168 ml/kg/day, p < 0.001). Cases had significantly higher percentage of fat mass (18.7 vs. 10.9) and fat-mass z-score (1.62 vs. 0.08) (p < 0.05), but similar fat-free mass vs. controls. Five case infants required gastrostomy.
Conclusions:
Higher body adiposity may worsen the infant oral feeding outcomes.
