Abdominal Fat Distribution Among Breastfed and Formula-Fed Infants

Objectives: To compare abdominal subcutaneous and preperitoneal fat thickness among breastfed, mixed-fed, and formula-fed infants during the first 6 months of life. Study Design: A cohort study started with 94 healthy newborns and 76 were followed during the whole first semester of life. Breastfeeding status was assessed by a personal interview. Abdominal subcutaneous and preperitoneal fat thickness was measured by ultrasound at the first, third, and sixth month of life. Results: Subcutaneous and preperitoneal fat thickness showed no differences from the first to the sixth month of life among breastfed, mixed-fed,s and formula-fed infants, respectively; subcutaneous: 26.1 +/- 10.2 to 57.4 +/- 10.3 cm, 27.7 +/- 10.5 to 55.4 +/- 1.4, and 28.1 +/- 10.9 to 52.7 +/- 10.6; p = 0.344; preperitoneal: 10.6 +/- 2.0 to 15.2 +/- 1.7, 10.3 +/- 2.8 to 15.5 +/- 1.7, and 9.7 +/- 2.6 to 15.6 +/- 1.6; p = 0.623). No differences were observed among male and female infants. Conclusion: Abdominal fat distribution measured by ultrasound seems not to be different among breastfed and formula-fed infants during the first semester of life.