Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 11, 2025
09:36
Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
27.2K
Association between Growth Trajectories and Body Composition Outcomes in Very Preterm Infants: A Cohort Study
Neonatology
|August 18, 2025
Summary
Establishing realistic postnatal growth targets is crucial for preterm infants. Infants not meeting individualized weight trajectories showed lower fat-free mass (FFM), highlighting the importance of growth monitoring.
Area of Science:
- Neonatology
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Growth and Development
Background:
- Realistic postnatal growth targets are needed for preterm infants.
- Individualized growth trajectories are a recent development in infant care.
- Body composition outcomes require characterization in relation to these trajectories.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize body composition outcomes in preterm infants.
- To assess outcomes based on individualized growth trajectories.
- To compare infants growing along, above, and below defined weight targets.
Main Methods:
- Cohort study of infants born <33 weeks gestation (2012-2022).
- Inclusion criteria: body composition measurements at term-equivalent age.
- Retrospective growth trajectory generation based on birth and term-equivalent weight, with stratification into three groups relative to target weight.
Main Results:
- 1052 infants included; median gestational age 28 weeks.
- Linear correlation found between weight difference and fat-free mass (FFM) z-scores (r = 0.34, p < 0.0001).
- Infants below target weight had lower mean FFM z-scores and greater declines in weight, length, and head circumference z-scores.
Conclusions:
- Weight trajectories below defined targets are associated with reduced FFM in preterm infants.
- Further research is necessary to confirm if targeting individualized growth trajectories improves FFM outcomes.
- This study underscores the link between early growth patterns and body composition in vulnerable infants.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Signs of Puberty
608
Puberty is a critical phase, typically beginning between the ages of 8 and 13 in girls and 9 and 14 in boys, though timing can vary based on genetics, environmental factors, and overall health. This period is characterized by the development of secondary sexual characteristics and the attainment of reproductive potential. Endocrine changes underpin puberty, with hormonal surges of Luteinizing Hormone (LH) and Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) instigated by Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH)...
608
01:10Nature and Nurture
20.7K
Many human characteristics, like height, are shaped by both nature—in other words, by our genes—and by nurture, or our environment. For example, chronic stress during childhood inhibits the production of growth hormones and consequently reduces bone growth and height. Scientists estimate that 70-90% of variation in height is due to genetic differences among individuals, and 10-30% of variation in height is due to differences in the environments that individuals experience,...
20.7K
01:52Regression Toward the Mean
6.5K
Regression toward the mean (“RTM”) is a phenomenon in which extremely high or low values—for example, and individual’s blood pressure at a particular moment—appear closer to a group’s average upon remeasuring. Although this statistical peculiarity is the result of random error and chance, it has been problematic across various medical, scientific, financial and psychological applications. In particular, RTM, if not taken into account, can interfere when...
6.5K
01:27Growth of Cartilage and Bone Tissue
3.5K
Chondrocytes form a temporary cartilaginous model by dividing and secreting a thick gel-like extracellular matrix. Once the chondrocytes undergo programmed cell death, osteoblasts enter the site of the cartilaginous model. The process of replacing the temporary cartilaginous model with bone in an ordered manner is called endochondral ossification. In endochondral ossification, not all of the cartilage is replaced by bone tissue. Some cartilage that performs a protective and supportive function...
3.5K
01:09Changes in the Appendicular Skeleton with Age
2.2K
The upper and lower limb initially develops as a small bulge called a limb bud, which appears on the lateral side of the early embryo. The upper limb bud appears near the end of the fourth week of development, with the lower limb bud appearing shortly after.
Initially, the limb buds consist of a core of mesenchyme covered by a layer of ectoderm. The ectoderm at the end of the limb bud thickens to form a narrow crest called the apical ectodermal ridge. This ridge stimulates the underlying...
Initially, the limb buds consist of a core of mesenchyme covered by a layer of ectoderm. The ectoderm at the end of the limb bud thickens to form a narrow crest called the apical ectodermal ridge. This ridge stimulates the underlying...
2.2K
01:29Oxygen Requirements and Growth Patterns
236
Microorganisms exhibit diverse oxygen requirements and growth patterns driven by their metabolic strategies and environmental adaptations. Oxygen, while essential for many organisms, can also be toxic under certain conditions, shaping how microorganisms grow and survive.Oxygen Requirements of MicroorganismsMicroorganisms are classified based on their ability to use or tolerate oxygen:● Obligate aerobes like Mycobacterium tuberculosis need oxygen for energy production, as it serves as the...
236