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Body Composition and "Catch-Up" Fat Growth in Healthy Small for Gestational Age Preterm Infants and

Laura E Lach1, Katherine E Chetta1, Amy L Ruddy-Humphries1

  • 1Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA.

Nutrients
|July 27, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Catch-up growth in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants, particularly small for gestational age (SGA) preterm infants, leads to normal neurodevelopmental outcomes comparable to appropriate for gestational age (AGA) infants.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatology
  • Pediatric Growth and Development
  • Body Composition Analysis

Background:

  • Very low birth weight (VLBW) infants often exhibit altered growth patterns.
  • Distinguishing between small for gestational age (SGA) and appropriate for gestational age (AGA) VLBW infants is crucial for understanding developmental trajectories.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the growth, body composition, and neurodevelopmental outcomes of SGA and AGA VLBW infants.
  • To investigate the relationship between catch-up growth and neurodevelopmental status in these infants.

Main Methods:

  • Serial air displacement plethysmography (ADP) scans were used to assess body composition in VLBW infants.
  • Outpatient neurodevelopmental testing (CAT/CLAMS, Peabody Gross Motor Scales) and anthropometrics were collected.
  • Repeated measures analyses of variances were employed to analyze the data.

Main Results:

  • Significant differences in body fat percentage, lean mass percentage, and weight gain were observed between SGA and AGA groups at initial assessment.
  • No significant differences in outpatient neurodevelopmental testing were found between the two groups.
  • Catch-up growth, characterized by body fat accrual, was evident by 67 weeks of postmenstrual age (PMA).

Conclusions:

  • Catch-up growth in VLBW infants is associated with normal neurodevelopmental outcomes, irrespective of SGA or AGA status.
  • SGA preterm infants achieving catch-up growth demonstrate neurodevelopmental outcomes comparable to their AGA preterm counterparts.
  • Early body composition assessment and monitoring of catch-up growth are important for VLBW infant development.

Keywords:
body compositionneonatal intensive careneonatal nutritionneurodevelopmental outcomenutrition/growthvery low birth weight

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