Nutritional assessment and measurement of body composition in preterm infants

Nutritional support of human preterm infants is aimed at achieving normal g rowth and development, to as optimal a condition as in utero. Because of pr emature birth, the normal developmental changes in body composition may tak e place earlier and thus nutritional support has to be altered or adapted a ccordingly. A discussion of various methods of nutritional assessment is pr esented. More importantly, data from these various studies are reviewed to demonstrate how these noninvasive techniques have contributed to a better k nowledge of changes in body composition, so the clinician may understand ho w to adapt nutrient delivery for optimal growth.