Longitudinal investigation of energy expenditure in infants with cystic fibrosis.

OBJECTIVE

To determine when energy expenditure becomes elevated in infants with cystic fibrosis (CF).

DESIGN

Longitudinal studies of total energy expenditure (TEE) using doubly labeled water were conducted in infants identified with CF by newborn screening through the first year of life.

SETTING

Hospital and community based studies in Denver, Colorado, USA and Cambridge, UK.

RESULTS

Eight of the 12 infants enrolled had begun enzyme therapy but were clinically asymptomatic. Four of the 12 infants were heterozygous for the delta F508 mutation, however no difference was seen in TEE from the remaining homozygous infants. TEE was compared to control cohorts at 2, 6 and 12 months of age. There was no difference from the control groups in TEE/kg fat free mass (FFM)/day at 2 months. However, by 6 months of age TEE/kg FFM/day in infants with CF exceeded that of age-matched controls by 25% (P<0.001). This elevation in TEE continued at 12 months of age exceeding that of controls by 30% (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicate that infants with CF have increased energy needs by 6 months of age and that early diagnosis alone does not prevent the development of increased caloric requirements. These findings emphasize the need for close nutritional monitoring to prevent suboptimal growth during infancy in this population.

SPONSORSHIP

This research was supported by grant number 5 MO1 RR00069, General Clinical Research Centers Program, National Center for Research Resources, NIH.