Abstract
Objective:To assess the short- and long-term effects of the adjustable fortification (ADJ) regimen on growth parameters in premature infants and to evaluate the amount of protein supplements given to reach the targeted blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels.Methods:In this retrospective study, preterm babies who were born at ≤32 weeks gestational age and fed with human milk, were evaluated in two groups. Infants in Group-I were fed only standard fortification (STD). Infants in Group-II were fed the ADJ regimen. The study was conducted between 2011 and 2016.Results:There were 123 infants in the STD group and 119 in the ADJ group. The mean gestational age of the patients in Group-I was 29.7±1.8 weeks, and mean birth weight was 1266.1±347.1 g. The mean gestational age of the patients in Group-II was 29.5±1.9 weeks, and the mean birth weight was 1217.5±345.5 g. The daily increase in weight and weekly increase in HC were significantly higher in the ADJ group infants. Weight and HC of infants in the ADJ group were significantly higher at 40 weeks. At one year corrected age, weight, length, and HC measurements of both groups were similar. In Group-II, 63% of patients required additional protein supplementation up to 1.6 g/day to achieve the target BUN levels.Conclusion:A higher protein intake through the ADJ regimen improves the physical growth rate of premature infants in the NICU and after discharge. However, sometimes, the targeted growth and BUN values cannot be achieved despite the administration of protein at the recommended increased doses. Increasing protein supplementation up to 1.6 g/day is safe, feasible, and beneficial for these infants.
Highlights
Optimal growth during the care of premature infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is similar to fetal growth.[1,2] Correspondence: July 6, 2018 July 12, 2018 January 8, 2019 January 10, 2019 in very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants, postnatal growth restriction continues to be a great problem.[3]
Length, and head circumference (HC) measurements were comparable for both groups, during their hospitalization, the daily weight gain and HC increase measured weekly in the adjustable fortification (ADJ) group were significantly higher (p
The short- and long-term effects of the ADJ regimen on the growth of premature infants were examined as compared to premature infants with similar characteristics that were fed only standard fortification (STD)
Summary
Optimal growth during the care of premature infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is similar to fetal growth.[1,2] . Correspondence: July 6, 2018 July 12, 2018 January 8, 2019 January 10, 2019 in very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants, postnatal growth restriction continues to be a great problem.[3] To prevent this, aggressive Parenteral Nutrition (PN) has become a standard practice in NICUs.[4] When switching to enteral nutrition, human milk is the first and only choice for all premature and term infants. The feeding only with breast milk is not sufficient to meet the energy and nutritional requirements of premature infants.[5,6] There is a consensus on the topic of standard fortification (STD) of human milk, for VLBW infants, to ensure the provision of adequate nutrients.[7]
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