Body Composition by DXA in pre-school children

RODRIGUEZ P; BERMUDEZ E; MACRI EV; PONCE G; ZENI SN; EXENI R; LIFSHITZ F; FRIEDMAN S

San Diego, California, USA

Congreso; Experimental Biology 2008; 2008

FASEB

Measurements of body composition in children is becoming more widespread. Many technologies are available, but DXA?s use is increasing in the last years due to its accuracy. The current obesity epidemic lead us to studied the relationship between body fat mass and bone, due to some evidence that in adolescents and young adults adipose tissue is not beneficial to bone structure. Objective: To compare body fat mass % (BF%) and bone mineral content % (BMC%) in boys and girls aged 3 to 5. Eigthy five children (males- M=40, females-F=45) from La Matanza, Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, attending a day care center, were included. There were divided in 6 groups according to weight/length Z scores (WLZ) and gender: 1M and 1F) ?1.5 to 1.5, 2M and 2F) 1.5 to 2.0 and 3M and 3F) >2.0 WLZ. BF% and BMC% were measured by Lunar DPX-L, pediatric software. Results: BF% and BMC% in: 1M were 18.4±4.6 and 37.7±7.0, 2M 27.9±7.7 and 38.4±6.2, 3M 30.6±6.2 and 34.1 ±4.8, 1F 25.6±5.0 and 41.1±5.2, 2F 35.3±5.7 and 35.7±4.5, and 3F 34.1±7.3 and 401.0±6.2, respectively. Conclusion: these results suggest that BMC in children aged 3 to 5 remained unchanged, regardless of high BF%. Awarded by UBACyT 004-003.