Body composition of preterm infants during the first three months of corrected age

• Grant number: 14/20492-8
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: March 01, 2015
• End date: February 29, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Nutrition - Nutritional Analysis of Population
• Principal Investigator: Patricia Helen de Carvalho Rondó
• Grantee: Patricia Helen de Carvalho Rondó
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Saúde Pública (FSP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

According to the World Health Organization fifteen million children are born prematurely, representing a public health problem worldwide. Late preterm (LPT) newborns have rapid weight gain, which results in greater gain in fat and lower gain in lean mass, reaching levels similar to full-term newborns at three months of corrected age. This increase in fat mass can raise the risk of chronic non communicable diseases and obesity later in life. The objective of this study is to analyze the evolution of growth and body composition of LPT after birth and in the first three months of corrected age. This is a longitudinal study of 100 newborns with gestational age between 34-36 weeks and 100 full-term babies. Anthropometry and body composition evaluations will be made 12 to 72 after birth, at 40 weeks of corrected gestational age and monthly until the third month of corrected age. Weight, height, waist circumference, head circumference, chest circumference, percentage of fat mass and percentage of lean mass will be evaluated. Body composition will be assessed by plethysmography equipment PEA POD® (COSMED USA, Concord, CA, USA, accurate to 0.1 g). Differences between the preterm and the term groups in measurements of all the variables investigated will be assessed by the student T-test or the Mann-Whitney test when appropriate. Multiple regressions will also be made to assess the evolution of the gain of fat mass and lean mass in both groups. It's expected to find a direct correlation between gestational age and body fat in LPT babies soon after birth, with results similar to the values found in full-term newborns up to three months of corrected age. (AU)