[Growth of children under long-term total parenteral nutrition]

The modalities of growth were determined with anthropometric measurements in 7 children under total parenteral nutrition for more than 2 years. Their speed of height growth is normal and correlated with their increase in lean body mass. Their weight growth is normal, however with a relative excess in fat mass explained by its high energy cost; on the contrary, the cost of maintenance activity is reduced. In order to limit the energy cost and, overall the risk of an excessive load of lipid deposits, the authors emphasize the importance of regularly determining the lean body mass and the composition of weight gain to manage properly the intake in prolonged total parenteral feeding.