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Body Composition Highlights Review

Body composition during fetal development and infancy through the age of 5 years

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 69, pages 1279–1289 (2015)Cite this article

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Abstract

Fetal body composition is an important determinant of body composition at birth, and it is likely to be an important determinant at later stages in life. The purpose of this work is to provide a comprehensive overview by presenting data from previously published studies that report on body composition during fetal development in newborns and the infant/child through 5 years of age. Understanding the changes in body composition that occur both in utero and during infancy and childhood, and how they may be related, may help inform evidence-based practice during pregnancy and childhood. We describe body composition measurement techniques from the in utero period to 5 years of age, and identify gaps in knowledge to direct future research efforts. Available literature on chemical and cadaver analyses of fetal studies during gestation is presented to show the timing and accretion rates of adipose and lean tissues. Quantitative and qualitative aspects of fetal lean and fat mass accretion could be especially useful in the clinical setting for diagnostic purposes. The practicality of different pediatric body composition measurement methods in the clinical setting is discussed by presenting the assumptions and limitations associated with each method that may assist the clinician in characterizing the health and nutritional status of the fetus, infant and child. It is our hope that this review will help guide future research efforts directed at increasing the understanding of how body composition in early development may be associated with chronic diseases in later life.

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Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge Martica Heaner, PhD for her editorial assistance. This study was supported by National Institutes of Health Grants UO1-DK-094463 (Diversityfellowship); P30-DK-26687; UL1-TR000040.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, New York Obesity Nutrition Research Center, St Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital, New York,, NY, USA

    T Toro-Ramos, C Paley, F X Pi-Sunyer & D Gallagher

  2. Department of Medicine, Institute of Human Nutrition, Columbia University, New York,, NY, USA

    T Toro-Ramos, F X Pi-Sunyer & D Gallagher

  3. Department of Pediatrics, St Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital, New York,, NY, USA

    C Paley

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Correspondence to T Toro-Ramos.

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Supplementary Information accompanies this paper on European Journal of Clinical Nutrition website

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Toro-Ramos, T., Paley, C., Pi-Sunyer, F. et al. Body composition during fetal development and infancy through the age of 5 years. Eur J Clin Nutr 69, 1279–1289 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2015.117

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2015.117

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