Anthropometry‐based prediction of body composition in early infancy compared to air‐displacement plethysmography

Funder: Danone Nutricia ResearchFunder: EU Commission for JPI HDHL program ‘Call III Biomarkers’ for project: BioFN ‐ Biomarkers for Infant Fat Mass Development and Nutrition; Grant(s): 696295Summary: Background: Anthropometry‐based equations are commonly used to estimate infant body composition. However, existing equations were designed for newborns or adolescents. We aimed to (a) derive new prediction equations in infancy against air‐displacement plethysmography (ADP‐PEA Pod) as the criterion, (b) validate the newly developed equations in an independent infant cohort and (c) compare them with published equations (Slaughter‐1988, Aris‐2013, Catalano‐1995). Methods: Cambridge Baby Growth Study (CBGS), UK, had anthropometry data at 6 weeks (N = 55) and 3 months (N = 64), including skinfold thicknesses (SFT) at four sites (triceps, subscapular, quadriceps and flank) and ADP‐derived total body fat mass (FM) and fat‐free mass (FFM). Prediction equations for FM and FFM were developed in CBGS using linear regression models and were validated in Sophia Pluto cohort, the Netherlands, (N = 571 and N = 447 aged 3 and 6 months, respectively) using Bland–Altman analyses to assess bias and 95% limits of agreement (LOA). Results: CBGS equations consisted of sex, age, weight, length and SFT from three sites and explained 65% of the variance in FM and 79% in FFM. In Sophia Pluto, these equations showed smaller mean bias than the three published equations in estimating FM: mean bias (LOA) 0.008 (−0.489, 0.505) kg at 3 months and 0.084 (−0.545, 0.713) kg at 6 months. Mean bias in estimating FFM was 0.099 (−0.394, 0.592) kg at 3 months and −0.021 (−0.663, 0.621) kg at 6 months. Conclusions: CBGS prediction equations for infant FM and FFM showed better validity in an independent cohort at ages 3 and 6 months than existing equations

Validation of a pre-coded food record for infants and young children.

International audienceBackground/Objectives: To assess the validity of a 7-day pre-coded food record (PFR) method in 9-month-old infants against metabolisable energy intake (MEDLW) measured by doubly labelled water (DLW); additionally to compare PFR with a 7-day weighed food record (WFR) in 9-month-old infants and 36-month-old children. Subjects/Methods: The study population consisted of 36 infants (age: 9.03±0.2 months) and 36 young children (age: 36.1±0.3 months) enrolled in a cross-over design of 7 consecutive days PFR vs. 7 consecutive days WFR. Children were randomly assigned to one method during Week 1, crossing over to the alternative method in Week 2. Total energy expenditure (TEE) and MEDLW was obtained in the 9-month-old infants using the DLW technique for 7 days while recording with PFR. Results: For the 9-month-old group, PFR showed a mean bias of +726 kJ/day, equivalent to 24 %, (P<0.0001) compared to MEDLW (n=29). Using WFR as the reference in this group no between-method differences were found for energy, fat and carbohydrate. Energy intake in the 36-month-old children was 12% higher in the PFR vs. WFR (P<0.0001) and protein plus total fat intake were overestimated with the PFR (P=0.008, P<0.0001, respectively). Conclusions: The study indicates that the PFR may be a valuable tool for measuring energy, energy-yielding nutrients and foods in groups of 9-month-olds infants and 36-month-olds young children. Keywords: Pre-coded food record; validation; energy intake; doubly labelled water; energy expenditure; dietary assessmen