In:
Pediatrics, American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Vol. 128, No. 3 ( 2011-09-01), p. e645-e651
Abstract:
There is increasing evidence that in utero growth has both immediate and far-reaching influence on health. Birth weight and length are used as surrogate measures of in utero growth. However, these measures poorly reflect neonatal adiposity. Air-displacement plethysmography has been validated for the measurement of body fat in the neonatal population. OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to show the normal reference values of percentage body fat (%BF) in infants during the first 4 days of life. METHODS: As part of a large population-based birth cohort study, fat mass, fat-free mass, and %BF were measured within the first 4 days of life using air-displacement plethsymography. Infants were grouped into gestational age and gender categories. RESULTS: Of the 786 enrolled infants, fat mass, fat-free mass, and %BF were measured in 743 (94.5%) infants within the first 4 days of life. %BF increased significantly with gestational age. Mean (SD) %BF at 36 to 3767 weeks' gestation was 8.9% (3.5%); at 38 to 3967 weeks' gestation, 10.3% (4%); and at 40 to 4167 weeks' gestation, 11.2% (4.3%) (P & lt; .001). Female infants had significantly increased mean (SD) %BF at 38 to 3967(11.1% [3.9%] vs 9.8% [3.9%] ; P = .012) and at 40 to 4167 (12.5% [4.4%] vs 10% [3.9%] ; P & lt; .001) weeks' gestation compared with male infants. Gender- and gestational age–specific centiles were calculated, and a normative table was generated for reference. CONCLUSION: %BF at birth is influenced by gestational age and gender. We generated accurate %BF centiles from a large population-based cohort.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0031-4005
,
1098-4275
DOI:
10.1542/peds.2010-3856
Language:
English
Publisher:
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
Publication Date:
2011
detail.hit.zdb_id:
1477004-0
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