Nutritional factors that affect the postnatal metabolic adaptation of full-term small- and large-for-gestational-age infants

Objective. To document metabolic adaptation to ex utero life in small-(SGA) and large-for-gestational-age (LGA) infants in relation to fetal nutrition and postnatal feeding practices. Methods. In a prospective study, 65 SGA ([less than or equal to] second centile) and 39 LGA ([greater than or equal to] 98th centile) full-term infants were recruited. Anthropometry was performed within the first 48 hours. There was full support of breast-feeding and close clinical observation. Blood glucose and ketone body (kb) concentrations were measured prefeed for the first 7 postnatal days. Infants were exclusively breastfed (BF), breastfed with formula milk supplementation (FS), or exclusively formula milk fed (FF). Results. Within the SGA group, a measure of "thinness," the midarm circumference/head circumference ratio, was significantly correlated to the number of episodes of blood glucose