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[Growth in preterm infants and its relationship with metabolic profile and diet]
Alejandro Ríos-Aguirre1, Citlalli Álvarez-Zaragoza1, Liuba M Aguirre-Salas2
1Universidad de Guadalajara, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Instituto de Nutrición Humana. Guadalajara, Jalisco, México.
Insights
Preterm infants often experience growth deficits. Low birth weight or length in premature infants is linked to slower growth recovery and increased risk of nutritional status issues.
Area of Science:
- Neonatalogy
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Growth and Development
Context:
- Preterm birth is a significant global health concern, frequently leading to postnatal growth retardation.
- Assessing the long-term growth and metabolic status of preterm infants is crucial for their developmental outcomes.
Purpose:
- To evaluate the anthropometric and metabolic profiles of preterm infants.
- To investigate differences in growth and metabolic parameters based on feeding type and birth measurements.
Summary:
- A cross-sectional study of 80 preterm infants (mean age 6.5 months) found high rates of low weight (42.7%) and length deficits by evaluation.
- Infants with low birth weight or length exhibited significantly lower anthropometric indices, irrespective of feeding type.
- No significant differences in serum glucose, insulin, cholesterol, triglycerides, or IGF-1 were observed based on birth measurements or feeding type.
Impact:
- The findings highlight the persistent challenges in growth recovery for preterm infants, emphasizing the need for early nutritional interventions.
- Low birth measurements serve as critical indicators for identifying preterm infants at higher risk for nutritional deficiencies and growth faltering.
Background:
Preterm birth is common, and it is associated with a high prevalence of growth retardation in the postnatal stage.
Objective:
To evaluate the growth of preterm infants, their metabolic profile, and their differences according to the type of feeding.
Material And Methods:
Cross-sectional design in apparently healthy preterm infants. Weight, length, mid-arm circumference, and triceps skin fold were measured and the weight/age, length/age, and weight/length indices were calculated. Serum concentrations of glucose, insulin, cholesterol, triglycerides, and IGF-1 were measured. For statistical analysis, children with low weight and length at birth and at the time of evaluation (> -2 SD) were identified; anthropometric indicators and biochemical parameters were compared using Student's t test according to the type of feeding and low weight or length.
Results:
Eighty premature infants were included, age 6.5 ± 1.7 months; at birth, 20 infants (25%) had low weight and 27 (33.8%) had low length; at the time of the evaluation, underweight increased to 42.7%. Anthropometric indices were lower in those with low birth weight or length (p < 0.05), with no differences by type of feeding. No differences in biochemical values were identified due to a history of low weight or length.
Conclusions:
The frequency of weight and length deficits in this group of premature infants is high. Low weight or length at birth is associated with slower growth recovery and represents a greater risk for the presence of alterations in nutritional status.
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