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Title: A new QMR-based technique for body composition analysis in infants

Author
item TAICHER, GERSH - ECHO MEDICAL SYSTEMS
item KOVNER, ISRAEL - ECHO MEDICAL SYSTEMS
item MITCHELL, ALVA

Submitted to: North American Association of Obesity Societies
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/28/2008
Publication Date: 10/3/2008
Citation: Taicher, G., Kovner, I., Mitchell, A.D. 2008. A new QMR-based technique for body composition analysis in infants. Obesity 16(S1):258-P/.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Accurate assessment and tracking of infant body composition is useful in evaluation of the amount and quality of weight gain, which can provide key information in both clinical and research settings. Thus, body composition analysis (BCA) results can be used to monitor and evaluate infant growth patterns, efficacy of nutritional and medical interventions, progression of chronic disease, and recovery from malnutrition. EchoMRI is a new quantitative magnetic resonance (QMR) method to measure total body fat (TBF), lean tissue mass (LTM), free water mass (FWM), and total body water (TBW). Success in using EchoMRI in small animals of different sizes (flies, mice, rats, birds, and dogs) has been reported. We determined the EchoMRI precision and accuracy in piglets as compared to DXA and chemical analysis. Twenty-five piglets weighing between 1700g and 4000g were scanned live, anesthetized, and dead, using a prototype EchoMRI device for infants. The piglets were also scanned anesthetized and dead using DXA, and then subjected to chemical analysis. Results of scans in anesthetized piglets were used for calibration of EchoMRI. After the calibration, we evaluate precision in terms of standard deviations (SD) of repeated measurements of fat and lean, for comparison between EchoMRI and DXA. The SD for measurement of TBF by EchoMRI and DXA in anesthetized and dead pigs was 4, 6, 19, and 19, respectively. The SD for measurement of LTM by EchoMRI and DXA in anesthetized and dead pigs was 7, 8, 18, and 17, respectively. The standard deviation of the difference between the mean of repeated EchoMRI measurements and the chemical analysis result is taken as a measure of accuracy in TBF and TBW. In conclusion, the EchoMRI is a precise and accurate method suitable for measurement of infant whole body composition and for multiple measurements of TBF, LTM, FWM, and TBW.