Sonographic assessment of abdominal fat distribution during the first year of infancy

Abstract

Articles RESULTS Participant CharacteristicsThe analyses included 162 infants (n = 77 girls, n = 85 boys) aged 6 wk (median 6.33 wk) and 160 infants (n = 79 girls, n = 81 boys) aged 4 mo (median 3.64 mo) who underwent sonographic examinations as well as anthropometric and SFT measurements during regular study visits. Overall 160 children (n = 84 girls, n = 76 boys) completed the investigations at 1 y of age (median 1.04 y). The anthropometric and ultrasound data are presented in Tables 1 and 2. All infants were born full-term between the Data are presented as mean ± SD (n) along with the nonadjusted mean difference (95% confidence interval) from mixed models containing time, sex and an interaction between sex and time. SFT, skinfold thickness.

Longitudinal sonographic assessment of abdominal fat distribution from 2 to 5 years of age

“…In addition, Fig. 1 illustrates the effect of age (1a) and sex (1b-d) on subcutaneous and preperitoneal fat measures from previous 16 and current findings. Preperitoneal fat area increased significantly from 2 to 5 years of age (all P values < 0.001).…”

“…Body composition measurement techniques, including weight, height, BMI, and SFT (triceps, biceps, subscapular, and suprailiac) measurements, were performed as explained previously. 16 Measurement of waist circumference and BMI percentiles, the latter according to Kromeyer-Hauschild et al, 24 were amended for follow-up analysis. Skinfold regression equations were computed in line with Weststrate and Deurenberg 25 to determine body fat mass (kg).…”

“…The method was described previously. 16 In brief, subcutaneous and preperitoneal fat were measured in two defined abdominal regions. To estimate subcutaneous and preperitoneal fat areas, the first measurement was performed by placing the US probe in the sagittal plane at the xiphoid process.…”

“…11 Preperitoneal fat has been shown to be an approximation of visceral fat in children and adults. 12,13 Several studies have published US data which assessed different body fat compartments in infancy younger than 1 year of age, 6,[14][15][16] in early childhood, 6,17 and in school-aged children. 13,18,19 In 2016, Vogelezang et al provided US data from 2-to 6-year olds, to investigate the degree of tracking of abdominal fat from 2 to 6 years of age.…”

“…Subcutaneous fat area showed a strong positive correlation with central skinfold thickness (SFT) measurements as well as the sum of 4 SFTs in the first year of life, while preperitoneal fat area was only weakly correlated at 6 weeks and 4 months with a slight increase in central and the sum of 4 SFTs at 1 year. 16 The objective of this follow-up study is to investigate the annual development of abdominal subcutaneous and preperitoneal fat measures in preschool children aged 2, 3, 4, and 5 years. The effect of age, sex, and the correlation with comprehensive anthropometric measures are presented.…”