Correlation Between Skeletal Muscle Mass and Fat-Free Mass in Infants Born Very Preterm

J Pediatr. 2025 Jan:276:114272. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2024.114272. Epub 2024 Aug 30.

Abstract

Assessing growth quality in preterm infants present challenges, particularly with the use of the standard fat-free mass measurement. We report here a moderate correlation between indirect skeletal muscle mass measurements using the D3-creatine dilution method and fat-free mass measured with air-displacement plethysmography. Skeletal muscle mass could serve as an indicator of growth quality.

Keywords: body composition; premature infants.

MeSH terms

  • Body Composition
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant, Extremely Premature*
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infant, Premature
  • Male
  • Muscle, Skeletal*
  • Plethysmography*