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Longitudinal Body Composition Data in Exclusively Breast‐Fed Infants: A Multicenter Study
Author(s) -
Fields David A.,
Gilchrist Janet M.,
Catalano Patrick M.,
Giannì Maria L.,
Roggero Paola M.,
Mosca Fabio
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
obesity
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.438
H-Index - 199
eISSN - 1930-739X
pISSN - 1930-7381
DOI - 10.1038/oby.2011.11
Subject(s) - medicine , anthropometry , birth weight , gestational age , fat free mass , fat mass , cohort study , prospective cohort study , body mass index , longitudinal study , obstetrics , cohort , pediatrics , pregnancy , biology , genetics , pathology
Reference %fat and total fat‐free mass data is necessary for evaluating growth in infants. We aimed to develop longitudinal %fat and total fat‐free mass data in infants from birth to 6 months of age. An observational, multicenter, prospective cohort study was conducted with assessments at birth, 1 week, 2 weeks, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 months of age. Subjects were exclusively breast‐fed and were enrolled at three centers. Whole‐body composition (i.e., %fat and total fat‐free mass) were assessed using air‐displacement plethysmography (ADP) (PEA POD; Life Measurement, Concord, CA). Maternal prepregnancy BMI, gestational weight gain, and infant anthropometric data were collected. A total of 160 infants (boys = 84) were assessed from birth to 4 months of age. Mean birth weight was 3.46 ± 0.39 kg %fat and fat‐free mass significantly increased from birth to 4 months of age ( P < 0.0001). Gender‐specific %fat and total fat‐free mass curves for infants from birth to 4 months of age were created. This study will be beneficial to health‐care professionals in evaluating normal growth and nutritional patterns in the first months of life.