Randomised trial of nutrition for preterm infants after discharge. Feeding preterm infants after hospital discharge: growth and development at 18 months of age. Posthospital discharge feeding for preterm infants: effects of standard compared with enriched milk formula on growth, bone mass, and body composition. Feeding with premature or infant formula in premature infants after discharge: comparison of growth and nutrition status. Nutrient enrichment of mother's milk and growth of very preterm infants after hospital discharge. Growth of preterm infants fed nutrient-enriched or term formula after hospital discharge. Randomized trial of nutrient-enriched formula versus standard formula for postdischarge preterm infants. [Quality of post-discharge growth in small for gestational age preterm infants: an explorative study]. Body composition in preterm infants fed standard term or enriched formula after hospital discharge.
In a randomised double blind trial, the effect on growth and clinical status of a nutrient enriched 'post-discharge' milk formula versus a standard term formula, was compared in 32 exclusively bottle fed preterm infants. The formulas were used as the sole milk intake up to a postnatal age of 9 months. Significant increases in linear growth and weight gain were observed in the infants who received the enriched diet. There were no differences in vomiting, posseting, or bowel habit between the groups. Formula volumes ingested were similar between diet groups, indicating that the difference in formula composition did not affect the infants' regulation of intake. These preliminary data suggest that there is a role for specially designed formulas for preterm infants after discharge from hospital. We have shown that preterm infants fed a preterm formula grow better than those fed a standard term infant formula after hospital discharge. The purpose of this follow-up study was to determine whether improved early growth was associated with later growth and development. Preterm infants (< or =1750 g birth weight, < or =34 wk gestation) were randomized to be fed either a preterm infant formula (discharge to 6 mo corrected age), or a term formula (discharge to 6 mo), or the preterm (discharge to term) and the term formula (term to 6 mo). Anthropometry was performed at 12 wk and 6, 12, and 18 mo. Mental and psychomotor development were assessed using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development II at 18 mo. Differences in growth observed at 12 wk were maintained at 18 mo. At 18 mo, boys fed the preterm formula were 1.0 kg heavier, 2 cm longer, and had a 1.0 cm greater occipitofrontal circumference than boys fed the term formula. Boys fed the preterm formula were also 600 g heavier and 2 cm longer than girls fed the preterm formula. However, no differences were noted in MDI or PDI between boys fed the preterm formula and boys fed the term formula or between the boys fed preterm formula and girls fed the preterm formula. Overall, boys had significantly lower MDI than girls (mean difference, 6.0; p < 0.01), primarily reflecting lower scores in boys fed the term formula. Thus, early diet has long-term effects on growth but not development at 18 mo of age. Sex remains an important confounding variable when assessing growth and developmental outcome in these high-risk infants. Despite the theoretical benefits of nutrient-enriched formula given to preterm infants after hospital discharge, its role in reversing growth deficits after hospital discharge remains poorly defined.
                The aim was to determine the effect of different formulas on the growth, bone mass, and body composition of preterm infants after hospital discharge.
                This was a randomized, double blind comparison of a nutrient-enriched formula (EF) and a formula for term infants (TF) given for 1 y after hospital discharge. Compared with the TF, the EF had a higher energy density and higher contents of protein, calcium, and phosphorus (by 10%, 21%, 44%, and 11%, respectively) and higher contents of almost all other nutrients (by >or=10%).
                Birth weights of the infants were 630-1620 g (median: 1250 g) and gestational ages were 24-34 wk (median: 29 wk). TF resulted in significantly greater weight, length, head circumference measurements, and their respective z scores on the basis of age- and sex-specific norms. At the end of the study, the mean z scores for the corrected age of infants in the TF group were -0.37 for weight, 0.001 for length, and 0.50 for head circumference. The TF group also had significantly greater dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry measured bone and lean and fat mass than did the EF group (P < 0.05 for all comparisons).
                The use of EF for preterm infants after hospital discharge shows no advantage over TF in growth, bone mineralization, and body composition. More studies are needed to determine the optimal postdischarge nutrition support for preterm infants. We designed this prospective randomized controlled study to evaluate the effects of premature and standard term formula on growth, nutrient intake and biochemical response in premature infants from hospital discharge to 6 months of corrected age. Premature infants with a gestational age of < or =35 weeks and a birth weight < or =1850 gm were assigned to receive premature infant formula (n = 19) or a standard term infant formula (n = 15). No differences were found between the two groups in weight, length, or head circumference at baseline or on follow-up. Infants fed premature formula had higher blood urea nitrogen and phosphorus at 3 months of corrected age. Those on the premature formula also had higher energy intake at 1 month of corrected age. We suggest that premature infants, especially very low birth weight infants, fed preterm infant formula after discharge until 6 months of corrected age tolerate the formula well and may benefit over those standard term formula. To determine if the addition of a multinutrient human milk fortifier to mother's milk while breastfeeding very preterm infants after hospital discharge is possible and whether it influences first-year growth.
                Of a cohort of 320 infants (gestational age: 24-32 weeks; birth weight: 535-2255 g), breastfed infants (65% [n = 207]) were randomly assigned shortly before hospital discharge to receive either unfortified (n = 102, group A) or fortified (n = 105, group B) mother's milk until 4 months' corrected age (CA). The remaining infants were bottle-fed with a preterm formula (group C). Follow-up was performed at term and at 2, 4, 6, and 12 months' CA.
                Mean duration of breastfeeding after term was not significantly different between groups A and B (11.8 and 10.6 weeks, respectively). Weight, length, and head circumference were not significantly different between groups A and B at 12 months' CA. Compared with groups A and B, infants in group C had a higher increase in weight z score until term and in length z score until 6 months' CA. At 12 months' CA, boys in group C were significantly longer and heavier compared with those in groups A and B, whereas girls in group C were longer and heavier compared with those in group A only. A higher protein intake was related to a higher serum urea nitrogen level and growth.
                Fortification of mother's milk after hospital discharge while breastfeeding very preterm infants was possible without influencing breastfeeding duration but did not significantly influence growth parameters at 1 year of age compared with unfortified mother's milk. At hospital discharge, preterm infants may have low body stores of nutrients, deficient bone mineralization, and an accumulated energy deficit. This double-blind, randomized study evaluated the growth of premature infants with birth weights <1800 g who were fed a 22 kcal/fl oz nutrient-enriched postdischarge formula (PDF) or a 20 kcal/fl oz term-infant formula (TF) from hospital discharge to 12 months' corrected age (CA).
                Infants were randomized to PDF or TF a few days before hospital discharge with stratification by gender and birth weight (<1250 g or >/=1250 g). The formulas were fed to 12 months' CA. Growth was evaluated using analysis of variance controlling for site, feeding, gender, and birth weight group. Interaction effects were also assessed. Secondary analyses included a repeated measures analysis and growth modeling.
                One hundred twenty-five infants were randomized; 74 completed to 6 months' CA and 53 to 12 months' CA. PDF-fed infants weighed more than TF-fed infants at 1 and 2 months' CA, gained more weight from study day 1 to 1 and 2 months' CA, and were longer at 3 months' CA. There were significant interactions between feeding and birth weight group-among infants with birth weights <1250 g, those fed PDF weighed more at 6 months' CA, were longer at 6 months' CA, had larger head circumferences at term 1, 3, 6, and 12 months' CA, and gained more in head circumference from study day 1 to term and to 1 month CA. The repeated measures and growth modeling analyses confirmed the analysis of variance results. The PDF formula seemed to be of particular benefit for the growth of male infants. Infants fed the PDF consumed less formula and had higher protein intakes at several time points. Energy intakes, however, were not different.
                Growth was improved in preterm infants fed a nutrient-enriched postdischarge formula after hospital discharge to 12 months' CA. Beneficial effects were most evident among infants with birth weights <1250 g, particularly for head circumference measurements. Preterm infants are frequently discharged from the hospital growth retarded and show reduced growth throughout childhood. In a large efficacy and safety trial, we tested the hypothesis that nutritional intervention in the first 9 months postterm would reverse postdischarge growth deficits and improve neurodevelopment without adverse safety outcomes.
                Two hundred eighty-four infants (mean gestation: 30.9 weeks) were studied; 229 were randomly assigned a protein, energy, mineral, and micronutrient-enriched postdischarge formula (PDF; N = 113) or standard term formula (TF; N = 116) from discharge (mean 36.5 weeks' postmenstrual age). A reference group (N = 65) was breastfed until at least 6 weeks' postterm. Outcome measures. Anthropometry was performed at 6 weeks and 3, 6, 9, and 18 months. Development was measured at 9 months (Knobloch, Passamanick, and Sherrard's developmental screening inventory) and 18 months (Bayley Scales of Infant Development II; primary outcome) postterm.
                At 9 months, compared with the TF group, those fed PDF were heavier (difference 370 g; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 84-660) and longer (difference 1.1 cm; 95% CI: 0.3-1.9); the difference in length persisted at 18 months (difference 0.82 cm; 95% CI: -0.04-1.7). There was no effect on head circumference. The effect of diet was greatest in males; at 9 months length deficit with TF was 1.5cm (95% CI: 0.3-2.7), and this remained at 18 months (1.5cm [95% CI: 0.3-2.7]). There was no significant difference in developmental scores at 9 or 18 months, although PDF infants had a 2.8 (-1.3-6.8) point advantage in Bayley motor score scales. At 6 weeks' postterm, exclusively breastfed infants were already 513 g (95% CI: 310-715) lighter and 1.6cm (95% CI: 0.8-2.3) shorter than the PDF group, and they remained smaller up to 9 months' postterm.
                1) Improving postdischarge nutrition in the first 9 months may "reset" subsequent growth-at least until 18 months for body length. We intend to follow-up the children at older ages. The observed efficacy of PDF was not associated with adverse safety outcomes. 2) We cannot reject the hypothesis that postdischarge nutrition benefits motor development and this requires additional study. 3) Our data raise the possibility that breastfed postdischarge preterm infants may require nutritional supplementation, currently under investigation. The Preterm newborns, especially if born small for gestational age (SGA), appear to be at risk for developing post-natal growth failure and an altered body composition. Nutrition-related growth during a critical window in infancy may affect the development of metabolic syndrome in adult life. Aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that the post-discharge period is critical for programming the catch up growth and the later development of metabolic syndrome in small for gestational-age infants fed either standard or enriched formula.
                A clinic randomized explorative study was conducted. Twenty-seven preterm SGA infants (gestational age < or = 33 weeks; birth weight < or = 1500 g) underwent assessment of growth and body composition by means of an air displacement system at 36 weeks, 15 days and 1 months adjusted age. SGA infants were randomized to receive standard formula (Kcal: 67/100 ml, proteins: 1,4 g/100 ml) or enriched formula (Kcal: 75/100 ml, proteins: 2 g/100 ml) after discharge.
                No differences in weight, fat mass, length and head circumference were found in SGA infants fed standard formula as compared to those fed enriched formula at 15 day or 1 months adjusted age.
                This explorative study suggests that in SGA infants growth, both in terms of quantity and quality, is not influenced by different nutritional management during the early post-discharge period. Most preterm infants are still preterm and have a low birth weight when they are discharged from the hospital. An important issue is whether the long-term consequences of early growth restriction can be diminished by nutritional intervention in preterm infants after discharge from the hospital.
                To evaluate differences in growth and in weight gain composition of preterm infants fed standard term formula (SF) or enriched formula (PDF) after discharge from hospital during the first 2 months of life.
                Thirty-three healthy preterm infants, birth weight < 1750 g at gestational age < 35 weeks, were randomised to SF or PDF at the time of discharge from hospital. Anthropometric variables were studied longitudinally and body composition was measured using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) twice, before hospital discharge and two months later. Weight gain composition was calculated as the difference between the two determinations.
                Seventeen infants were fed SF and 16 PDF. Anthropometric variables and whole body composition were similar at birth, at the start of the nutritional study (mean age 45 days), and at the end of the study 2 months later. Over the whole study period, weight gain and weight gain composition were similar in the two groups. Sex did not appear to influence weight gain and weight gain composition. In infants with growth restriction at discharge there was a significant reduction of weight gain, fat mass gain, and bone mineral content deposition independently of the formula provided.
                There is no immediate effect on preterm infants of a nutrient enriched formula compared with a standard formula on growth, weight gain, or weight gain composition.
Current recommendations to prescribe "post-discharge formula" for preterm infants following hospital discharge are not supported by the available evidence. Some limited evidence exists that feeding preterm infants following hospital discharge with "preterm formula" (which is generally only available for in-hospital use) may increase growth rates up to 18 months corrected age.