Which group of infants is considered at high risk for inadequate glycogen stores?

Preterm infants are considered at high risk for inadequate glycogen stores due to their underdeveloped metabolic systems and limited time in utero for accumulating glycogen reserves. Glycogen, a form of stored glucose, is crucial for energy, especially in the early days of life when infants have high demands for energy and may have difficulty feeding.

Preterm infants are born before 37 weeks of gestation, which means they miss out on significant periods of fetal development, where the accumulation of glycogen in the liver and muscles primarily occurs. This can lead to hypoglycemia and poor energy availability, primarily because they often have immature liver function and may not be able to mobilize their glycogen stores effectively when needed.

In contrast, other groups mentioned, such as older adults, healthy term infants, and infants with respiratory distress, do not share the same degree of risk for inadequate glycogen reserves. Healthy term infants are born after the full gestation period and generally have robust glycogen stores. Infants with respiratory distress, while they may face immediate health challenges, are not universally at risk for glycogen depletion unless they are also preterm or have other complicating factors.