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Abstract
Objective: This study was undertaken to assess the potential influence of total parenteral nutrition (TPN) on body composition (BC) in preterm infants.
Study design: This prospective, observational study of infants born <35 weeks measured BC at discharge using air displacement plethysmography. The % body fat (BF) at discharge was correlated with variables gestational age (GA), severity of illness, days on oxygen, time to regain birth weight and duration of TPN.
Result: The 61 patients enrolled had a %BF at discharge of 13.9%. GA and TPN days correlated with %BF for the entire group. Multiple regression analysis identified that the time to regain birth weight added to the effect of GA, but not TPN. Isolating the influence of TPN in a subgroup of similarly aged infants (30–35 weeks) did not reveal a difference in body composition at the time of discharge between infants who did or did not receive TPN.
Conclusion: These findings fail to demonstrate a clear influence of TPN on the increased accrual of BF in premature infants and implicate gestational modification in nutrient/caloric utilization as a principle regulator of body composition in premature newborns.