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INTRODUCTION Excess adiposity is a major risk factor for adverse health outcomes and chronic diseases. (1) Body fat assessment in infants is important not only as an indicator of nutritional [...], BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Prediction equations are commonly used to estimate body fat from anthropometric measurements, but are population specific. We aimed to establish and validate a body composition prediction formula for Asian newborns, and compared the performance of this formula with that of a published equation. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Among 262 neonates (174 from day 0, 88 from days 1-3 post delivery) from a prospective cohort study, body composition was measured using air-displacement plethysmography (PEA POD), with standard anthropometric measurements, including triceps and subscapular skinfolds. Using fat mass measurement by PEA POD as a reference, stepwise linear regression was utilized to develop a prediction equation in a randomly selected subgroup of 62 infants measured on days 1-3, which was then validated in another subgroup of 200 infants measured on days 0-3. RESULTS: Regression analyses revealed subscapular skinfolds, weight, gender and gestational age were significant predictors of neonatal fat mass, explaining 81.1% of the variance, but not triceps skinfold or ethnicity. By Bland-Altman analyses, our prediction equation revealed a non-significant bias with limits of agreement (LOA) similar to those of a published equation for infants measured on days 1-3 (95% LOA: (- 0.25, 0.26) kg vs (- 0.23, 0.21) kg) and on day 0 (95% LOA: (- 0.19, 0.17) kg vs (- 0.17, 0.18) kg). The published equation, however, exhibited a systematic bias in our sample. CONCLUSIONS: Our equation requires only one skinfold site measurement, which can significantly reduce time and effort. It does not require the input of ethnicity and, thus, aid its application to other Asian neonatal populations. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2013) 67, 922-927;doi: 10.1038/ejcn.2013.69;published online 3 April 2013 Keywords: body composition; neonatal fat mass; prediction equation; skinfolds

The assessment of fluid balance and body composition is critical to many aspects of neonatology. FLUID BALANCE During the first days of life, the distribution of fluid within the body [...], BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: There is a critical need for improved technologies to monitor fluid balance and body composition in neonates, particularly those receiving intensive care. Bioelectrical impedance analysis meets many of the criteria required in this environment and appears to be effective for monitoring physiological trends. SUBJECT/METHODS: The literature regarding the use of bioelectrical impedance in neonates was reviewed. RESULTS: It was found that prediction equations for total body water, extracellular water and fat-free mass have been developed, but many require further testing and validation in larger cohorts. Alternative approaches based on Hanai mixture theory or vector analysis are in the early stages of investigation in neonates. CONCLUSIONS: Further research is required into electrode positioning, bioimpedance spectroscopy and Cole analysis in order to realise the full potential of this technology. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2013) 67, S28-S33; doi: 10.1038/ejcn.2012.162 Keywords: bioelectrical impedance; neonate; fluid balance; body composition