PITFALLS OF BODY-FAT ASSESSMENTS IN PREMATURE-INFANTS BY ANTHROPOMETRY

Subcutaneous fat mass (SFM) and total fat mass (TFM) were estimated in 16 preterm infants at 8 +/- 2 days postnatal age. SFM was estimated f rom anthropometric measurements: 5 skinfold thicknesses, 5 body circum ferences, and regional body lengths. TFM was estimated from total body water measurements using dilution of isotopic water, (H2O)-O-18. The proportion of TFM that was SFM decreased with an increase in TFM. In i nfants with less than 100 g of TFM (5% body weight), 74% of TFM is in the subcutaneous layer compared with only 35% in infants with higher T FM (more than l00 g). Subscapular skinfold thickness is the best predi ctor of TFM (r = 0.78). Additional skinfold thickness measurements (tr iceps, biceps, suprailiac and thigh) do not improve the predictability OF TFM by the subscapular skinfold thickness. We conclude that measur ement of subscapular skinfold thickness is an appropriate choice for e stimating fat deposition in preterm infants, particularly in field stu dies and in developing countries.