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Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
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Normal anthropometry does not equal normal body composition in pediatric intestinal failure

Dianna Yanchis1,2,3, Christina Belza1,2,3, Debra Harrison1,2,3

  • 1Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.

JPEN. Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition
|September 12, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Children with intestinal failure often have abnormal body composition, even with normal growth. Routine body composition measurement is crucial for guiding nutrition interventions in these pediatric patients.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Nutritional Science
  • Body Composition Analysis

Background:

  • Previous studies linked abnormal body composition in pediatric intestinal failure to poor growth.
  • This study focuses on body composition in normally growing children with intestinal failure.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To report the body composition of pediatric patients with intestinal failure who exhibit normal growth.
  • To identify potential risks for abnormal body composition in this specific patient group.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 34 children (8-18 years) with intestinal failure undergoing dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA).
  • Collected data included demographics, residual bowel anatomy, nutrition support, height, weight, bone mineral density (BMD), fat mass (FM), and fat-free mass (FFM).
  • DXA data were compared with age- and sex-matched literature controls.

Main Results:

  • Patients had normal height and weight z-scores but a mean BMD z-score of -1.0 ± 1.3, with 26% showing reduced BMD.
  • Children with intestinal failure exhibited significantly higher fat mass (P = .02) and lower fat-free mass (P = .02) compared to controls.
  • Abnormal body composition was observed despite normal growth parameters.

Conclusions:

  • Children with intestinal failure are at risk for abnormal body composition, irrespective of normal height and weight.
  • Routine body composition assessment is recommended for pediatric patients with intestinal failure.
  • Body composition data can inform and direct tailored nutrition interventions.
Abstract

Keywords:
body compositionintestinal failurenutrition assessmentparenteral nutritionpediatrics

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