Stable isotopes and body composition in children: History, fundamentals, and clinical applications

Abstract

The aim of this study was to gather information on the use of stable isotopes to measure total body water and body composition scan in children. We selected studies in the last 13 years; in addition to classical studies on the subject, indexed in the database PubMed, LILACS, BVS and SciELO. The body composition was characterized by the amount of bone tissue, muscle and adipose tissue, also including the organs as well as levels of body water. Your knowledge becomes increasingly important in light of the changes that occur in the nutritional status of various types of diseases in frameworks, such as diabetes mellitus, protein energy malnutrition, in cases of obesity and metabolic syndrome. The ability to accurately assess body fat mass especially in children is associated with the importance of effective strategies for prevention and treatment of childhood obesity. Historically, in addition to clinical applications, measurements of total body water were used to determine body composition in nutritional studies. To the knowledge of the body composition, the body water can be measured and used by the ingestion of a dose of labeled water. The measured isotope enrichment is a function of the amount of body water. The method of deuterium is particularly interesting for the assessment of body composition in children, due to its characteristics of collection and analysis.

Applications of Deuterium in Medicinal Chemistry

“…Most studies relating to the toxicity of deuterium are relatively old, yet data are reassuring. While it could be expected that deuterium, at high enough concentrations, may be toxic, it is estimated that the threshold for clinically relevant side effects is between 200 and 400 mg/kg of pure D 2 O (i.e., 14 g for a 70 kg person), well above what can be envisaged for a medical use . Indeed, the amount of deuterium in bioactive molecules would be lower by 2–3 orders of magnitude.…”

Body Composition Measurement in Children with Cerebral Palsy, Spina Bifida and Spinal Cord Injury: A Systematic Review of the Literature

“…The most accurate measure of BC is cadaver analysis which is not a viable option, so indirect measures of BC are used (Toomey et al,[39]). Indirect measures of BC are based on properties of fat free mass in the typically developing individual (Toomey et al,[39]) allowing a prediction of BC (Bila, 2013). Dependent on the diagnosis, children with SN may have an altered body habitus that can include atypical fat and/or water distribution, short stature, contractures, kyphosis, scoliosis, and decreased muscle mass (Gurka et al,[15]; Kuperminc et al,[22]; Littlewood,Trocki,& Cleghorn,[25]; Liu,Roberts,[26]).…”