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Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 2008;93:F382-F383 doi:10.1136/adc.2007.127431
  • Short report

Neonatal intrahepatocellular lipid

  1. E L Thomas1,
  2. S Uthaya2,
  3. V Vasu2,
  4. J P McCarthy1,
  5. P McEwan2,
  6. G Hamilton1,
  7. J D Bell1,
  8. N Modi2
  1. 1
    Molecular Imaging Group, MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, Imperial College London, London, UK
  2. 2
    Section of Neonatal Medicine, Division of Medicine, Chelsea & Westminster Campus, Imperial College London, London, UK
  1. Professor Neena Modi, Section of Neonatal Medicine, Division of Medicine, Imperial College London, Chelsea & Westminster Campus, 369 Fulham Road, London SW10 9NH, UK; n.modi{at}imperial.ac.uk
  • Accepted 27 December 2007

Abstract

There is increasing evidence that preterm birth is a risk factor for the development of adiposity associated disease, although the pathophysiological basis is unclear. We have previously shown that preterm infants have increased internal abdominal (visceral) adiposity by term. In adults increased internal adiposity is associated with elevated intrahepatocellular lipid (IHCL). We measured IHCL using 1H NMR spectroscopy in 26 infants (eight healthy preterm-at-term and 18 term-born) and compared values with a reference group of 32 adults. There was no significant difference between adult and term-born IHCL content. In preterm-at-term infants IHCL was significantly elevated when compared with term-born infants and with adults (IHCL CH2/water median (interquartile range): preterm 1.69 (1.04–3.53), term 0.21 (0–0.54) and adult 0.55 (0.08–1.57).

Footnotes

  • Funding: This study was funded through grants from the Medical Research Council and Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust.

  • Competing interests: None.

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