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Standards for total body fat and fat-free mass in infants
N C de Bruin1, K A van Velthoven, M de Ridder
1Department of Paediatrics/Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Insights
This study provides reference centiles for total body fat and fat-free mass in infants using total body electrical conductivity. These standards aid in assessing infant growth and nutritional status during rapid development.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Body Composition Analysis
- Infant Growth Monitoring
Background:
- Accurate body composition data is crucial for diagnosing infant growth and nutritional disorders.
- Reference centiles are essential for evaluating treatment efficacy during rapid infant growth.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish cross-sectional age, weight, and length-related centile standards for total body fat (TBF) and fat-free mass (FFM) in healthy term Caucasian infants.
- To provide tools for assessing infant body composition and nutritional status.
Main Methods:
- Total body fat (TBF) and fat-free mass (FFM) were estimated using total body electrical conductivity (TBEC) measurements.
- Centile standards were calculated using Altman's method, employing polynomial regression and residual variation modeling.
- Data collected from 423 healthy term Caucasian infants aged 14-379 days.
Main Results:
- Cross-sectional centile standards for TBF and FFM were developed based on age, weight, and length.
- Total body fat percentage showed a rapid increase in the first six months, followed by a gradual decline.
- Predictive equations derived from TBEC measurements were provided for TBF and FFM estimation.
Conclusions:
- The established centile standards and predictive equations facilitate the assessment of body composition in infants.
- These tools are valuable for identifying growth and nutritional issues and monitoring treatment effectiveness.
- The findings support the use of TBEC-derived standards for routine infant assessment.
Abstract:
Data on body composition in conjunction with reference centiles are helpful in identifying the severity of growth and nutritional disorders in infancy and for evaluating the adequacy of treatment given during this important period of rapid growth. Total body fat (TBF) and fat-free mass (FFM) were estimated from total body electrical conductivity (TBEC) measurements in 423 healthy term Caucasian infants, aged 14-379 days. Cross sectional age, weight, and length related centile standards are presented for TBF and FFM. Centiles were calculated using Altman's method, based on polynomial regression and modelling of the residual variation. The TBF percentage steeply increased during the first half year of life, and slowly declined beyond this age. Various simple TBEC derived anthropometric prediction equations for TBF and FFM are available to be used in conjunction with these standards. Regression equations for the P50 and the residual SD, depending on age, weight, or length, are provided for constructing centile charts and calculating standard deviation scores.