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Deuterium equilibration time in infant's body water
1Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology, University of Chile, Santiago.
European Journal of Clinical Nutrition
|July 1, 1994
Summary
Deuterium oxide equilibration in infants took longer than expected (4.85 hours), suggesting current methods may underestimate total body water. This finding impacts hydration assessments in pediatric nutrition research.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Isotope Hydrology
Background:
- Accurate assessment of total body water (TBW) is crucial for evaluating hydration status and nutritional needs in infants.
- Deuterium oxide (heavy water) is a common tracer for measuring TBW.
- Field studies often require relaxed conditions, potentially affecting isotope equilibration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the equilibration time of deuterium oxide in the body water pool of infants under relaxed feeding conditions.
- To compare TBW measurements using the plateau and intercept methods.
Main Methods:
- Ten infants recovering from undernutrition were administered deuterium oxide.
- Body water samples were collected over a 12-day period.
- Isotope equilibration time was calculated using the plateau method and validated against the intercept method.
Main Results:
- The mean deuterium oxide equilibration time was found to be 4.85 +/- 1.3 hours.
- TBW values calculated by the plateau and intercept methods differed by only 0.6%.
- The observed equilibration time is significantly longer than the commonly used 2-3 hour period.
Conclusions:
- The intercept method offers comparable TBW data to the plateau method and is more suitable for field studies.
- The longer equilibration time necessitates a re-evaluation of standard protocols for TBW assessment in infants.
- Faster TBW assessment in infants is possible with the plateau method for controlled short studies.