[Evaluation of the lean body and/or muscle mass in children receiving artificial nutrition. Comparative value of anthropometric data and the urinary excretion of creatinine and 3-methylhistidine].

Lean body mass was estimated in 15 adequately nourished and afebrile children, aged 1 to 24 months, receiving parenteral and/or enteral nutrition with anthropometric measurements (30 analyses). At the same time, muscle mass was evaluated from the 24 hour-urinary excretion of creatinine and 3-methylhistidine. Statistical computations showed and excellent correlation between the results obtained by both methods. The stable conditions for these children receiving artificial nutrition (normal nitrogen, carbohydrate and fat intakes, excluding exogenous creatinine and 3-methylhistidine) allow the use of these two biological measurements as markers of muscle mass and provide a control for the validity of the results of anthropometric measurements. Urinary excretion of 3-methyl-histidine not correlated with that of creatinine or with anthropometric data should suggest an increase in myofibrillary catabolism. These 3 simple, non invasive tests may be particularly useful in patients receiving artificial nutrition, to study the short- and long-term efficacy of the methods of artificial feeding used and to modulate the intake of nitrogen, carbohydrates and fat.