An attempt to improve development of preterm Infants by early exercise load during NICU admission

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K17313
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 52050:Embryonic medicine and pediatrics-related
• Research Institution: Aichi Medical University
• Principal Investigator: Mori Mari 愛知医科大学, 医学部, 助教 (90825465)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 早産児 / 体組成 / 骨密度 / 運動負荷

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We aimed to improve the body composition of preterm infants, who are considered to have a higher percentage of slow adiposity than normal term infants, by performing exercise that simulates fetal movement in utero.
First, we examined the weight and height of preterm infants at birth, at discharge, and at 3 years of age at the researcher's facility. The SD of height at discharge was positively correlated with the SD of height at 3 years of age. Bone density at discharge was lower than that of normal term infants. We made a stable swaddling cloth to wrap the child, but due to the corona disaster, the start of exercise load to the child was delayed significantly, and we are currently collecting data. On the other hand, inactive vitamin D was administered as an attempt to improve bone metabolism, and the results showed that the inactive vitamin D group had significantly higher blood Ca concentration and lower intact PTH than the non-treated group.

Free Research Field

新生児

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

従来筋肉や骨量が正期産児に比して少ないとされる早産児は運動発達がゆっくりとなる傾向があり、身長増加のスピードも緩やかである場合がある。本研究により早産児の体組成の改善がみられれば、これら早産児の抱える問題点を改善できる可能性があり養育者の負担軽減につながる。また、体組成の改善は糖尿病や高血圧など将来的な生活習慣病のリスク軽減につながる可能性もある。