[Compensatory growth in children nourished artificially]

The features of catch-up growth were studied, with the aid of anthropometric measurements, in 59 malnourished children, under continuous enteral or parenteral nutrition. Normal weight was reached after 4 months and normal height after 10 months. Protein compartment was normalized after 4 months; so was the fat tissue compartment, for which, however, further increase occurred up to the 6th month. This evolutive profile, observed under artificial nutrition, does not differ from the catch-up observed under spontaneous oral feeding. The excess in fatty mass partially accounts for the high energetic cost, half reduced however in artificial feeding. The authors emphasize the risk of excessive energetic intake in artificial feeding and underline the importance of anthropometric monitoring of the lean body in the modulation of the intake.