Medizinische Universität Graz Austria/Österreich - Forschungsportal - Medical University of Graz
Gewählte Publikation:
Kaimbacher, P.
Body fat distribution of long-term enterally fed children
Doktoratsstudium der Medizinischen Wissenschaft; Humanmedizin; [ Dissertation ] Medical University of Graz; 2014. pp. 108
- Autor*innen der Med Uni Graz:
- Betreuer*innen:
- Dunitz-Scheer Marguerite
- Scheer Peter
- Tafeit Erwin
- Altmetrics:
- Abstract:
- Objectives: In the context of enteral nutrition support in children, the questions of fat resorption and influence on growth are of great importance. This dissertation, therefore, focusses on the measurements of subcutaneous body fat distribution and anthropometry of long-term enterally fed children compared to healthy controls, as well as during a 3-week standardized tube weaning program. Methods: The Lipometer, an optical device, was used to measure the thicknesses of subcutaneous adipose tissue layers (SAT-layers) (in mm). The Lipometer measurements at 15 specified body sites on the right side of the human body allow the specification of the typical body fat distribution pattern, known as subcutaneous adipose tissue topography (SAT-Top), of a subject. Results: The 33 long-term enterally fed toddlers (10 girls, 23 boys) had a similar SAT-Top compared to 120 healthy controls (54 girls, 66 boys), but showed significantly lower anthropometric values (females: height (p=0.014), (-11.7 cm, -12.5%) and weight (p=0.012), (-3.0 kg, -21.9%); males: 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%)). Furthermore, a clear decrease in SAT-Top and anthropometry of 30 long-term enterally fed children (13 girls, 17 boys) during tube weaning in both sexes has been found. Girls lost -26.1 mm, -30.7% (p=0.002) of their initial fat mass and boys -12.5 mm -18.4% (p<0.001). Generally, girls had thicker SAT layers in all SAT-Top measurements and a higher reduction of subcutaneous body fat during the treatment. At the end of the 3-week tube weaning program girls and boys showed similar results of subcutaneous body fat on the three observed levels: 15 body sites, four body regions and SAT-total (total subcutaneous adipose tissue). At discharge girls had 58.9 mm and boys 55.5 mm of SAT-total. Conclusion: This study provides basic documentation and measurements of SAT-Top and anthropometry of long-term enterally fed children compared to healthy controls as well as during 3-week standardized tube weaning. These findings could potentially make a contribution to creating guidelines for safe tube weaning in the near future. Still, additional studies are needed.