Nutritional management of chronic lung disease

Abstract

Chronic lung disease is most common in infants of low birth weight and low gestation. Factors such as marginal calorie and nutritional reserves, anti-oxidant enzyme, trace element and vitamin deficiency, and infection may play a part in the development of the disease. Infants with established chronic lung disease may fail to thrive due to increased energy expenditure secondary to hypoxia, infection, airway obstruction, anaemia and also because of decreased nutritional intake due to neurological impairment or immature oromotor function. Most nutritional interventions which have been suggested for the prevention or treatment of chronic lung disease have not been adequately assessed by randomized clinical trials.