Abdominal Fat Distribution Among Breastfed and Formula-Fed Infants.

OBJECTIVES

To compare abdominal subcutaneous and preperitoneal fat thickness among breastfed, mixed-fed, and formula-fed infants during the first 6 months of life.

STUDY

DESIGN

A cohort study started with 94 healthy newborns and 76 were followed during the whole first semester of life. Breastfeeding status was assessed by a personal interview. Abdominal subcutaneous and preperitoneal fat thickness was measured by ultrasound at the first, third, and sixth month of life.

RESULTS

Subcutaneous and preperitoneal fat thickness showed no differences from the first to the sixth month of life among breastfed, mixed-fed,s and formula-fed infants, respectively; subcutaneous: 26.1 ± 10.2 to 57.4 ± 10.3 cm, 27.7 ± 10.5 to 55.4 ± 1.4, and 28.1 ± 10.9 to 52.7 ± 10.6; p = 0.344; preperitoneal: 10.6 ± 2.0 to 15.2 ± 1.7, 10.3 ± 2.8 to 15.5 ± 1.7, and 9.7 ± 2.6 to 15.6 ± 1.6; p = 0.623). No differences were observed among male and female infants.

CONCLUSION

Abdominal fat distribution measured by ultrasound seems not to be different among breastfed and formula-fed infants during the first semester of life.