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Randomized trial of enteral protein and energy supplementation in infants less than or equal to 1250 g at birth

Journal of Perinatology volume 30, pages 517–521 (2010)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objective:

To determine if enteral protein and energy supplementation would significantly improve weight gain as compared with energy supplementation alone in ⩽1250 g infants.

Study Design:

Inclusion criteria were birth weight (BW) ⩽1250 g, postnatal age ⩾14 days, diet of ⩾75% enteral nutrition (fortified human milk or formula) and either failure to regain BW or weight gain<15 g kg−1 per days. Infants were randomized to a multinutrient supplement that provided increased protein and energy (P/E) intake or energy alone (medium chain triglyceride oil, MCT). Growth rates were compared at the end of the 4-week study period.

Result:

Of 30 eligible infants, 23 were enrolled, 12 received MCT (BW=862±252 g, mean±s.d.) and 11 received P/E (BW=879±241 g). Significantly higher protein intake (P/E=3.5±0.3 g kg−1 per day, MCT=3.0±0.5 g kg−1 per day) and better growth (P/E=17.0±2.4 g kg−1 per day, MCT=11.5±4.8 g kg−1 per day) were observed in the P/E group.

Conclusion:

These data are consistent with the importance of providing additional daily protein intake to achieve increased postnatal growth in very low birth weight infants experiencing slow growth.

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Acknowledgements

All nutritional supplements were provided by Mead Johnson Nutritionals. This study was supported in part by Yale Children's Clinical Research Center Grant MO1-RR06022. HLB was supported by National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Training Grant T32HD07094 during the performance of this research project. We thank Debra Camputaro, Janet Healey and Joshua C Brumberg for their assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Newborn Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, New York Medical College, Maria Fareri Children's Hospital, Westchester Medical Center, Valhalla, NY, USA

    H L Brumberg

  2. Centre Medical and Surgical Associates, State College, PA, USA

    L Kowalski

  3. Adheris Inc., Burlington, MA, USA

    A Troxell-Dorgan

  4. Newborn Special Care Unit, Yale-New Haven Children's Hospital, New Haven, CT, USA

    P Gettner, M Konstantino, J F Poulsen & R A Ehrenkranz

  5. Department of Pediatrics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA

    R A Ehrenkranz

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  1. H L Brumberg
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  2. L Kowalski
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  4. P Gettner
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  5. M Konstantino
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  6. J F Poulsen
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  7. R A Ehrenkranz
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Correspondence to H L Brumberg.

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Brumberg, H., Kowalski, L., Troxell-Dorgan, A. et al. Randomized trial of enteral protein and energy supplementation in infants less than or equal to 1250 g at birth. J Perinatol 30, 517–521 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2010.10

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