Measuring body composition in preterm neonates near term: bioelectrical impedance provides only few additional information compared to anthropometry alone

Background: Detailed knowledge of body composition in preterm neonates is important in nutritional intervention studies. However, little attention has been paid to test whether bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is a useful bedside method that allow to predict fat-free mass (FFM) for this population. Objective: To develop prediction equations using BIA and anthropometric measurements for determining FFM in preterm neonates. Design: FFM of 118 white subjects (51 males and 67 females), mean gestational age of 30.1±3.1 weeks and birth weight of 1.26±0.47kg were measured at a gestational age of 38.6±3.8 weeks an…