Thermal environment change in growing premature infants: effect on general somatic growth and subcutaneous fat accumulation

Fourteen growing, healthy premature infants were moved from heated incubators to cribs at different points in their growth. Group A (six babies) was moved when babies reached a weight of 1,600 to 1,700 gm; group B (eight babies) when babies reached a weight of 1,800 to 1,900 gm. All other conditions of rearing were kept the same. The effect on their growth and thermal stability was measured during the week before and after the temperature change. All infants tolerated the change well. There was no drop in abdominal temperature in an environment cooler by 5 C. The rate of weight gain correlated with gross energy intake only and did not differ within or between the two groups. The rate of growth of the skinfolds increased dramatically after the infants were moved from the incubator. A cooler environment in a growing premature infant (weight greater than 1,600 gm) may promote faster deposition of subcutaneous fat. This might be an important factor in efficient gain in cold resistance.