Daniela Morniroli1, Angelica Dessì2, Maria Lorella Giannì1, Paola Roggero1, Antonio Noto2, Luigi Atzori3, Milena Lussu3, Vassilios Fanos2, Fabio Mosca1. 1. a NICU, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health , Fondazione IRCCS Ca` Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Universita` degli Studi di Milano , Milano , Italy. 2. b Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Puericulture Institute and Neonatal Section, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria, University of Cagliari , Cagliari , Italy. 3. c Department of Biomedical Sciences , University of Cagliari , Cagliari , Italy.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Preterm infants' body composition at term-corrected age differs from that of term infants but appears to be similar at the age of 3 months. The aim of this study was to compare the metabolomic pattern of preterm infants at term and at 3 months with that of term infants and to determine its association with body composition development. METHOD: We designed a pilot study. Growth and body composition were evaluated by an air displacement plethysmography system in 13 preterm infants and seven term newborns at term and at 3 months of corrected age. Urine samples were collected at the same time points and analysed by nuclear magnetic resonance. RESULTS: At term-corrected age, preterm infants showed a higher fat mass percentage compared with that of term newborns, whereas at 3 months of corrected age, the body composition parameters were similar between the groups. At the first time point, nuclear magnetic resonance analysis showed a urinary increase in choline/phosphocholine, betaine and glucose in preterm infants. At the second time point, the preterm group exhibited a urinary increase in choline/phosphocholine and a decrease in betaine. CONCLUSIONS: The increased urinary excretion of choline, a betaine precursor, could reflect a potential altered metabolism in preterm infants.
OBJECTIVE: Preterm infants' body composition at term-corrected age differs from that of term infants but appears to be similar at the age of 3 months. The aim of this study was to compare the metabolomic pattern of preterm infants at term and at 3 months with that of term infants and to determine its association with body composition development. METHOD: We designed a pilot study. Growth and body composition were evaluated by an air displacement plethysmography system in 13 preterm infants and seven term newborns at term and at 3 months of corrected age. Urine samples were collected at the same time points and analysed by nuclear magnetic resonance. RESULTS: At term-corrected age, preterm infants showed a higher fat mass percentage compared with that of term newborns, whereas at 3 months of corrected age, the body composition parameters were similar between the groups. At the first time point, nuclear magnetic resonance analysis showed a urinary increase in choline/phosphocholine, betaine and glucose in preterm infants. At the second time point, the preterm group exhibited a urinary increase in choline/phosphocholine and a decrease in betaine. CONCLUSIONS: The increased urinary excretion of choline, a betaine precursor, could reflect a potential altered metabolism in preterm infants.
Authors: Luise V Marino; Simone Paulson; James J Ashton; Charlotte Weeks; Aneurin Young; John V Pappachan; Jonathan Swann; Mark J Johnson; Robert Mark Beattie Journal: Nutrients Date: 2022-09-23 Impact factor: 6.706