Growth and bone mineralization in small‐for‐gestational‐age preterm infants. Issue 1 (February 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kitazawa, Shigetaka; Itabashi, Kazuo; Umeda, You; Inoue, Makoto; Nishioka, Takashi
• Is Part Of: Pediatrics international. Volume 56:Issue 1(2014)
• Page Start: 67
• Page End: 71
• Publication Date: 2014-02
• Subjects: Pediatrics -- Periodicals; 618.92
• DOI: 10.1111/ped.12189
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1328-8067

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="ped12189-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>Preterm infants are at risk for metabolic bone disease and suboptimal growth. This study examined the hypothesis that, apart from prematurity, intrauterine growth status (expressed as gestational age‐specific birthweight standard deviation score) influences bone mineralization and body composition in early infancy.</p> </sec> <sec id="ped12189-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>In this retrospective study, the groups consisted of preterm small‐for‐gestational‐age (SGA) infants (<italic>n</italic> = 18; SGA group) and preterm appropriate‐for‐gestational‐age (AGA) infants (<italic>n</italic> = 24; AGA group). Postnatal bone mineralization was measured at term‐adjusted age (postmenstrual age, 37–42 weeks). Bone mineral content (BMC) and body composition were determined on dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry of the whole body.</p> </sec> <sec id="ped12189-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>BMC and lean mass were significantly lower in the SGA group than in the AGA group at term‐adjusted age (37–42 weeks postmenstrual age). Stepwise regression analysis identified weight at examination as the most significant factor, accounting for 51% of the variance in BMC.</p> </sec> <sec id="ped12189-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>Bodyweight at term‐adjusted age, rather than intrauterine growth, may affect postnatal bone mineralization in preterm low‐birthweight infants. Therefore, promoting an increase in body size might increase postnatal bone mineralization in preterm SGA infants.</p> </sec> </abstract>