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Comparison of Anthropometry and Body Composition Using Air Displacement Plethysmography in Term Small for Gestational
Ramya Padmanabha1, Shruti R Pai1, Sumithra Selvam2
1Division of Nutrition, St. John's Research Institute, a recognised research centre of University of Mysore, St. John's National Academy of Health Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka.
Insights
Small for gestational age (SGA) neonates have lower body fat and fat-free mass at birth compared to appropriate for gestational age (AGA) neonates. These differences in body composition are evident at birth and show sexual dimorphism.
Area of Science:
- Neonatalogy
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Body Composition Analysis
Background:
- Small for gestational age (SGA) neonates are at increased risk for growth deficits.
- These early growth issues may correlate with later metabolic health problems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare anthropometry and body composition in term SGA and appropriate for gestational age (AGA) neonates.
- To assess for sexual dimorphism in neonatal body composition estimates.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional analytical study involving 413 term neonates (91 SGA, 322 AGA) within 7 days of birth.
- Air-displacement plethysmography (ADP) was used to measure neonatal anthropometry and body composition.
- Length-corrected fat mass index (FMI) and fat-free mass index (FFMI) were calculated.
Main Results:
- SGA neonates exhibited significantly lower % body fat, fat mass, fat-free mass, FMI, and FFMI compared to AGA neonates (P<0.001).
- Males demonstrated higher % fat-free mass, fat-free mass, and FFMI, alongside lower % body fat and FMI compared to females (P<0.01).
Conclusions:
- Neonatal body composition analysis at birth reveals significantly reduced body fat and fat-free mass in SGA infants compared to AGA infants.
- The study identified significant sexual dimorphism in body composition parameters in term neonates.
Background:
Small for gestational age (SGA) neonates are prone to growth deficits in early life, which may be associated with later life metabolic abnormalities.
Objectives:
To compare anthropometry and body composition using air-displacement plethysmography (ADP) in term SGA and appropriate for gestational age (AGA) neonates, and assess if sexual dimorphism existed in estimates of body composition.
Study Design:
Cross-sectional analytical study.
Participants:
413 term neonates (91 SGA and 322 AGA) at birth (≤7days).
Methods:
Neonatal anthropometry and body composition were measured using ADP. Length corrected fat mass index (FMI) and fat free mass index (FFMI) were calculated.
Outcome:
Anthropometry and body composition estimates of SGA and AGA neonates, segregated by sex.
Results:
The mean (SD) birth weight of SGA and AGA neonates was 2.5 (0.2) kg and 3.1 (0.3) kg, respectively. SGA neonates had significantly lower % body fat (BF) (2.0%), fat mass (94.4 g), fat free mass (FFM) (349.7 g), FMI (0.34 kg/m2), and FFMI (0.76 kg/m2), but higher %FFM (2.0%) compared to AGA neonates (P<0.001). Males had significantly higher %FFM [91.2 (3.1) vs 90.2 (3.5); P=0.001], FFM [2604 (280) vs 2442 (233) g; P<0.001], and FFMI [11.1 (0.8) vs 10.8 (0.8) kg/m2; P=0.005], but lower % BF [8.8 (3.1) vs 9.8 (3.5); P=0.001] and FMI [1.1(0.4) vs 1.2 (0.5) kg/m2; P=0.008], compared to females.
Conclusions:
Accurate estimates of body composition in neonates at birth suggest significantly lower body fat and fat free mass in SGA compared to AGA, with sexual dimorphism.
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