Body Composition of Infants Born with Intrauterine Growth Restriction: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Rukman Manapurath,Barsha Gadapani,Luís Pereira-Da-Silva

doi:10.3390/nu14051085

Rukman Manapurath, Barsha Gadapani + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14051085

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Abstract

Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) may predispose metabolic diseases in later life. Changes in fat-free mass (FFM) and fat mass (FM) may explain this metabolic risk. This review studied the effect of IUGR on body composition in early infancy. Five databases and included studies from all countries published from 2000 until August 2021 were searched. Participants were IUGR or small-for-gestational age (SGA) infants, and the primary outcomes were FFM and FM. Eighteen studies met the inclusion criteria, of which seven were included in the meta-analysis of primary outcomes. Overall, intrauterine growth-restricted and SGA infants were lighter and shorter than normal intrauterine growth and appropriate-for-gestational age infants, respectively, from birth to the latest follow up. They had lower FFM [mean difference −429.19 (p = 0.02)] and FM [mean difference −282.9 (p < 0.001)]. The issue of whether lower FFM and FM as reasons for future metabolic risk in IUGR infants is intriguing which could be explored in further research with longer follow-up. This review, the first of its kind can be useful for developing nutrition targeted interventions for IUGR infants in future.

Highlights

Published: 4 March 2022According to Barker’s hypothesis, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) predisposes to metabolic diseases in later life [1]
IUGR was defined based on fetal growth deceleration and/or clinical features of intrauterine malnourishment at birth, and small for gestational age” (SGA) on birth weight less than the 10th percentile for gestational age or two standard deviations below the population norms on the growth charts [3,4]
This review shows the effect of IUGR on growth and body composition in early infancy

Summary

Introduction

According to Barker’s hypothesis, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) predisposes to metabolic diseases in later life [1]. Many of the studies used the terms “IUGR” and “small for gestational age” (SGA) synonymously [2]. SGA is commonly defined as those infants whose birth weight is less than the 10th percentile for gestational age or two standard deviations below the population norms on the growth charts. The definition does not consider intrauterine growth trajectory and physical characteristics at birth [3–5]. An. IUGR is a clinical definition and applies to fetal growth deceleration and/or neonates born with clinical features of intrauterine malnourishment, irrespective of their birth weight percentile in relation to gestational age [4]. SGA infants may constitute intrauterine growth restricted as well as constitutionally small infants [3]

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