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Fetal programming of body dimensions and percentage body fat measured in prepubertal children with a 4-component model of body composition, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, deuterium dilution, densitometry, and skinfold thicknesses

Fetal programming of body dimensions and percentage body fat measured in prepubertal children with a 4-component model of body composition, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, deuterium dilution, densitometry, and skinfold thicknesses
Fetal programming of body dimensions and percentage body fat measured in prepubertal children with a 4-component model of body composition, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, deuterium dilution, densitometry, and skinfold thicknesses
BACKGROUND: Intrauterine programming of body composition [percentage body fat (%BF)] has been sparsely examined with multiple independent reference techniques in children. The effects on and consequences of body build (dimensions, mass, and length of body segments) are unclear.

OBJECTIVE: The study examined whether percentage fat and relation of percentage fat to body mass index (BMI; in kg/m(2)) in prepubertal children are programmed during intrauterine development and are dependent on body build. It also aimed to examine the extent to which height can be predicted by parental height and birth weight.

DESIGN: Eighty-five white children (44 boys, 41 girls; aged 6.5-9.1 y) had body composition measured with a 4-component model (n = 58), dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (n = 84), deuterium dilution (n = 81), densitometry (n = 62), and skinfold thicknesses (n = 85).

RESULTS: An increase in birth weight of 1 SD was associated with a decrease of 1.95% fat as measured by the 4-component model (P = 0.012) and 0.82-2.75% by the other techniques. These associations were independent of age, sex, socioeconomic status, physical activity, BMI, and body build. Body build did not decrease the strength of the associations. Birth weight was a significantly better predictor of height than was self-reported midparental height, accounting for 19.4% of the variability at 5 y of age and 10.3% at 7.8 y of age (17.8% and 8.8% of which were independent of parental height at these ages, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS: Consistent trends across body-composition measurement techniques add strength to the suggestion that percentage fat in prepubertal children is programmed in utero (independently of body build and BMI). It also suggests birth weight is a better predictor of prepubertal height than is self-reported midparental height.
programming, body composition, birth weight, fat, protein, mineral, water, lean mass, 4-component model, height, parental height, shape, body build, leg, trunk, length
0002-9165
618-624
Elia, M.
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Betts, P.
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Jackson, D.M.
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Mulligan, J.
dfcb8ed3-df23-4808-a137-6e3f7503063f
Elia, M.
964bf436-e623-46d6-bc3f-5dd04c9ef4c1
Betts, P.
6d3896c4-ec07-48b9-aa27-a644abc74516
Jackson, D.M.
e53c4044-3752-45fc-8f41-c6d21b742dfd
Mulligan, J.
dfcb8ed3-df23-4808-a137-6e3f7503063f

Elia, M., Betts, P., Jackson, D.M. and Mulligan, J. (2007) Fetal programming of body dimensions and percentage body fat measured in prepubertal children with a 4-component model of body composition, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, deuterium dilution, densitometry, and skinfold thicknesses. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 86 (3), 618-624.

Record type: Article

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Intrauterine programming of body composition [percentage body fat (%BF)] has been sparsely examined with multiple independent reference techniques in children. The effects on and consequences of body build (dimensions, mass, and length of body segments) are unclear.

OBJECTIVE: The study examined whether percentage fat and relation of percentage fat to body mass index (BMI; in kg/m(2)) in prepubertal children are programmed during intrauterine development and are dependent on body build. It also aimed to examine the extent to which height can be predicted by parental height and birth weight.

DESIGN: Eighty-five white children (44 boys, 41 girls; aged 6.5-9.1 y) had body composition measured with a 4-component model (n = 58), dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (n = 84), deuterium dilution (n = 81), densitometry (n = 62), and skinfold thicknesses (n = 85).

RESULTS: An increase in birth weight of 1 SD was associated with a decrease of 1.95% fat as measured by the 4-component model (P = 0.012) and 0.82-2.75% by the other techniques. These associations were independent of age, sex, socioeconomic status, physical activity, BMI, and body build. Body build did not decrease the strength of the associations. Birth weight was a significantly better predictor of height than was self-reported midparental height, accounting for 19.4% of the variability at 5 y of age and 10.3% at 7.8 y of age (17.8% and 8.8% of which were independent of parental height at these ages, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS: Consistent trends across body-composition measurement techniques add strength to the suggestion that percentage fat in prepubertal children is programmed in utero (independently of body build and BMI). It also suggests birth weight is a better predictor of prepubertal height than is self-reported midparental height.

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Published date: September 2007
Keywords: programming, body composition, birth weight, fat, protein, mineral, water, lean mass, 4-component model, height, parental height, shape, body build, leg, trunk, length

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 48459
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/48459
ISSN: 0002-9165
PURE UUID: 112f64ee-b90d-4311-8ae5-885c2d8b2717

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Date deposited: 25 Sep 2007
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 09:46

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Contributors

Author: M. Elia
Author: P. Betts
Author: D.M. Jackson
Author: J. Mulligan

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