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Original scientific paper

Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue Topography in Long-Term Enterally Fed Children and Healthy Controls

Petra Silke Kaimbacher ; Department of General Pediatrics, University Clinic of Pediatrics and Adolescence Medicine, Medical University Graz, Graz, Austria
Sandra Johanna Wallner-Liebmann ; Institute of Pathophysiology, Center for Molecular Medicine, Medical University Graz, Graz, Austria
Marguerite Dunitz-Scheer ; Department of General Pediatrics, University Clinic of Pediatrics and Adolescence Medicine, Medical University Graz, Graz, Austria
Peter Jaron Zwi Scheer ; Department of General Pediatrics, University Clinic of Pediatrics and Adolescence Medicine, Medical University Graz, Graz, Austria
Gerhard Cvirn ; Institute of Physiological Chemistry, Centre for Physiological Medicine, Medical University Graz, Graz, Austria
Walter Schrabmair ; Institute of Physiological Chemistry, Centre for Physiological Medicine, Medical University Graz, Graz, Austria
Wolfgang Johann Schnedl ; Practice for General Internal Medicine, Bruck/Mur, Austria
Michael John Hamlin ; Department of Social Science, Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Sport, Lincoln University, Christchurch, New Zealand
Erwin Tafeit ; Institute of Physiological Chemistry, Centre for Physiological Medicine, Medical University Graz, Graz, Austria


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Abstract

In the context of enteral feeding in children the influence on growth and the question of fat resorption is of great interest. We, therefore, measured the thickness of subcutaneous body fat in a sample of long-term enterally fed toddlers and healthy controls. In 33 long-term enterally fed toddlers (10 girls, 23 boys) and 275 healthy controls (128 girls, 147 boys) subcutaneous body fat was measured by means of the optical device Lipometer. All participants were divided into three age groups (infants, toddlers, children). The height (p=0.014, -11.7 cm, -12.5%) and weight (p=0.012, -3.0 kg, -21.9%) of long-term enterally fed female toddlers were significantly lower than healthy controls, while male enterally fed toddlers had lower values in all anthropometric measures compared to healthy controls: height (p=0.003, -8.0 cm, -8.4%), weight (p<0.001, -3.5 kg, -24.8%), BMI (p=0.004, -1.3 BMI), Z-score BMI (p=0.001, -1.2 Z-score BMI), upper arm circumference (p<0.001, -1.6 cm, -10.1%) and waist circumference (p<0.001, -6.2 cm, -12.5%). Tube fed toddlers showed a similar body fat distribution when compared to healthy controls, but demonstrated significantly lower values of anthropometric measurements. The results indicate that long-term enterally fed children have ample fat stores but lack physical development.

Keywords

body composition; body fat distribution; lipometer; enteral feeding

Hrčak ID:

166263

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/166263

Publication date:

20.11.2015.

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