Abstract 187

Background: Premature infants require large amounts of protein and energy to obtain normal growth. According to ESPGAN the infant should receive min. 3 g protein/kg/d and 130 kcal/kg/d.

Subjects: 106 mothers delivering before 32 w of gestational age(GA).

Methods: 484 milksamples were obtained on weekly basis and analysed for true protein (1.2 g true protein ≅ 1.5 g total protein), carbohydrate and fat by infrared analysis (Milkoscan 104 IR). Milk was collected after complete expression with an electrical pump in 24 hour pools.

Results: Table Protein conc. decreased (-0.01 g/d; p<0.001) and fat conc. increased (0.02 g/d; <p.001) significantly with time. Both were independent of volume of expressed milk (p>0.1) and GA of the infant (p>01). The protein conc. for each mother was positively associated with energy conc. (p=0.004). In 50% of the mothers the true protein conc. was < 1.2 g/100 ml at 6 weeks after delivery. 61% of the mothers could fully supply the infants with the volume of milk needed. 66% of the mothers breast-fed their infants at term.

Table 1
Full size table

Conclusion: When feeding 200 ml/kg of own mothers milk in very premature infants, the energy requirements will be met and often exceeded for all infants. The protein requirements will be met for 50 % of the infants up to 6 weeks after birth.