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Body Composition of Preterm Infants following Rapid Transition to Enteral Feeding

Cornelia Wiechers1, Vanessa Avellina1, Beate Luger1

  • 1Department of Neonatology, University Children's Hospital, Eberhard Karls University, Tübingen, Germany.

Neonatology
|January 17, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Body composition in very preterm infants fed rapidly was similar to other preterm groups. Fat-free mass was lower in infants small for gestational age, indicating potential growth differences.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatology
  • Pediatric Nutrition
  • Body Composition Analysis

Background:

  • Very preterm infants often face challenges with enteral feeding.
  • Rapid transition to full enteral feeding is a strategy to improve outcomes.
  • Body composition changes in preterm infants require careful monitoring.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate body composition at hospital discharge in very preterm infants.
  • To assess the impact of rapid enteral feeding transition on body composition.
  • To compare body composition metrics with gestational age and growth parameters.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective, observational, cross-sectional study.
  • Included 105 preterm infants (<32 weeks gestational age or <1,500g birth weight).
  • Measured fat mass/total body mass (BF%) and fat-free mass (FFM) using air displacement plethysmography at discharge.

Main Results:

  • At discharge (37.6 weeks postmenstrual age), BF% was 17.0% and FFM was 2,161g.
  • BF% was not associated with gestational age at birth.
  • Fat-free mass was significantly lower in infants born small for gestational age.

Conclusions:

  • Rapid enteral feeding transition resulted in body composition similar to other preterm populations.
  • Body composition was associated with postmenstrual age, not gestational age at birth.
  • Preterm infants showed lower fat-free mass and higher fat mass compared to term infants, suggesting diminished growth.
Abstract

Keywords:
Air displacement plethysmographyBody compositionEnteral feeding advancementsFat massNutritionPreterm infant

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