Abstract :
Keywords Preterm infants; Body composition; Growth; Small for gestational age; Metabolic syndrome Highlights * Early differences in body composition of small and appropriate for gestational age preterm infants resolve by preschool ages. * Body composition changes in small for gestational age preterm infants occurred between term and 3 months of corrected age. * A close monitoring of body composition during infancy may influence the neurodevelopmental and metabolic outcomes. Abstract Background Small for gestational age preterm infants show differences in body composition when compared to those appropriate for gestational age at term, which have consequences on metabolism. Aim To compare growth and body composition of children born small and appropriate for gestational age between 4 and 7 years. Method A Cohort of small and appropriate for gestational age infants Results Ninety-four infants were included at term (26 small and 68 appropriate for gestational age); 88 at 3 months (24 small and 64 appropriate for gestational age) and 47 between 4 and 7 years (11 small and 36 appropriate for gestational age). At term, small for gestational age infants had lower fat-free mass, fat mass, weight and length compared with those appropriate for gestational age (p Conclusion Between 4 and 7 years, children born small and appropriate for gestational age had similar body composition. New long-term longitudinal studies are necessary to understand the influence of fat-free mass and fat mass in the first months of age on body composition throughout life. Abbreviations SGA, small for gestational age; AGA, appropriate for gestational age; ICU, Intensive care unit Author Affiliation: (a) Instituto Fernandes Figueira, Avenida Rui Barbosa 716- Flamengo, Rio de Janeiro CEP 22250020, RJ, Brazil (b) Instituto Fernandes Figueira -- Fiocruz, Brazil * Corresponding author. Article History: Received 6 July 2022; Revised 16 August 2022; Accepted 17 August 2022 Byline: Sylvia Reis Gonçalves Nehab [sylvia.nehab@iff.fiocruz.br] (a,*), Letícia Duarte Villela (b), Fernanda Valente Mendes Soares (b), Andrea Dunshee de Abranches (b), Saint-Clair Gomes Junior (b), Maria Elisabeth Lopes Moreira (b)