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Parenteral amino acid intakes: possible influences of higher intakes on growth and bone status in preterm infants

Journal of Perinatology volume 33, pages 33–39 (2013)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objective:

To study the possible influences of amino acid (AA) intakes on growth and bone status in preterms.

Study Design:

Newborns, weighing <1250 g, received standard (S) or higher (H) parenteral AA intakes (3 or 4 g kg−1 per day). Anthropometry, biochemistry and quantitative ultrasound (metacarpus bone transmission time (mcBTT), in μs) were measured prospectively.

Result:

A total of 55 patients in group S and 60 in group H were studied. Significantly better growth rate was found in the H group during the study without signs of intolerance. We found a significant decrease in mcBTT from birth to 21 days in the H group; nonetheless, mcBTT at 36 weeks of gestational age significantly positively correlated with early AA and energy intakes. A significant positive correlation between mcBTT and lower limb length (LLL) at 21 days was found.

Conclusion:

Early higher AA intakes improved growth without short-term AA intolerance. Nutritional parameters could influence bone growth. LLL was the anthropometric parameter that best correlated to bone status.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, University of Padova, Padova, Italy

    S Scattolin, P Gaio, M Betto, S Palatron, F Intini, G Visintin & G Verlato

  2. Laboratory of Clinical Biophysics, Carpi, Modena, Italy

    F De Terlizzi

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  1. S Scattolin
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  2. P Gaio
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  3. M Betto
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Correspondence to G Verlato.

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Scattolin, S., Gaio, P., Betto, M. et al. Parenteral amino acid intakes: possible influences of higher intakes on growth and bone status in preterm infants. J Perinatol 33, 33–39 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2012.44

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2012.44

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