BODY COMPOSITION IN INFANTS: METHODS AND CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Abstract

Objectives The aims were to determine the ethnic variations and the influence of developmental factors on neonatal abdominal adiposity in Asian neonates. Methods Participants were from a prospective mother-offspring cohort study in Singapore. Mothers were recruited in their early pregnancy. Maternal blood samples were collected at 26-26 weeks of gestation for oral-glucose-tolerance test and vitamin-D assays. Neonatal body composition was measured by anthropometry, bio-electrical-impedance and air-displacement-plethysmography. Abdominal adipose tissue from MRI images were categorized into superficial (sSAT), deep subcutaneous (dSAT) and internal (IAT) compartments. Results dSAT was greater in Indian and Malay compared to Chinese neonates. Positive associations between both fasting glucose and 2-hour post OGTT glucose, and neonatal abdominal adiposity were observed. Maternal 25(OH)D inadequacy was associated with greater neonatal sSAT and dSAT. Conclusion Ethnic variations and the influence of maternal glycemia and vitamin D deficiency on neonatal body composition at birth may form a basis for having different risk of cardiometabolic diseases in adulthood.