Is term newborn body composition being achieved postnatally in preterm infants?
GROUND: The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that preterm infants’ growth duplicates fetal growth rates and that body composition replicates in utero body composition. AIMS: To compare the total body fat mass between preterm infants assessed at term corrected age and full-term newborns, and to investigate the effects of gestational age, gender, weight increase, being breast fed on total adiposity. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective observational study. SUBJECTS: One hundred and ten preterm infants [mean (SD) gestational age: 29.9 (2.3) weeks; birth weight: 1118 (274) g], and 87 full term [mean (SD) 38.6 (1.21) weeks, 3203 (385) g], breastfed infants. OUTCOME MEASURES: Growth and body composition by means of a pediatric air displacement system were assessed at term corrected age in preterm infants and on day 3 of life in full term infants. RESULTS: Weight, length and head circumference were smaller in the preterm group as compared to the term group. Mean (SD) percentage of fat mas
