Sex-specific charts for abdominal circumference in term and near-term Caucasian newborns.

Aims: Abdominal circumference (AC) assessment may be used as an index of abdominal visceral size, fetal fat store, and intrauterine nutrition. The aim of this study is to construct sex-specific references and smoothed percentiles for AC at birth in term and near-term Caucasian infants.

Methods: AC was measured in 4542 singleton newborns (2323 males, 2219 females), at a gestational age > or =35 weeks.

Gender differences in newborn subcutaneous fat distribution.

Unlabelled: The pattern and distribution of subcutaneous fat in term and preterm newborns has been assessed by skinfold thicknesses (ST), describing gender and gestational age variations. Weight, length and ST (triceps, biceps, subscapular and suprailiac) were measured in 4634 neonates (2445 males and 2189 females) aged from 32 to 41 gestational weeks. Central to total skinfold ratio (CTS), (suprailiac + subscapular)/sum of 4 ST, was calculated.