BODY-COMPOSITION OF CHILDREN WITH CYSTIC-FIBROSIS WITH MILD CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS COMPARED WITH NORMAL-CHILDREN

Because growth and anthropometric measurements are frequently below no rmal in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), the body composition of 23 children (6-9 y of age) who had mild manifestations of CF was examine d and compared with a control group of 24 subjects similar in age, sex , and weight. Skinfold measurements, total body water (TBW) by deuteri um oxide dilution, and total body electroconductivity (TOBEC) were mea sured. Skinfold and TBW measurements demonstrated that fat mass and fa t-free mass did not differ significantly between the two groups. No si gnificant difference in percent body fat was found by using the skinfo ld equations of Slaughter et al (13.8% vs 15.3%), although percent bod y fat (TBW method) differed between the groups (P<0.05). TOBEC measure ments (CF, n=14) were not used in the group comparison. The majority o f the methods demonstrated that the CF group achieved normal growth an d body composition, with a possible trend of fat depletion.