Abstract 188

Background: High protein and energy intakes are needed in premature infants to achieve normal growth. We have compared the effect of commonly used feeding regimes on growth. Subjects: Prospective cohort of 152 premature infants with gestational age (GA) < 32 w. Mean(SD) GA was 29 (2) w and BW 1183 (301) g. Interventions: Randomised groups: 1) human milk (HM) (own mothers (OMM) or bank) with phosphate; 2) fortified HM (HM + Fort.) with phosphate, calcium and protein 0.4 g/100 ml; 3) preterm formula (PF) with protein 2.0 g/100 ml if own mothers milk not available. Mean (SD) volume of intake: 191 (10) ml/kg/d. Intervention from 1 week old until 36 w of GA. Weight obtained daily, headcircumference and knee-heel length (knemometry) weekly. Growth velocity calculated for each infant by linear regression. Protein- and energyintake calculated for each infant after infrared analysis of milk. The study was blinded. Table There was a significant difference in weight gain (p<0.001), with higher weight gain in infants fed HM + Fort, PF and OMM + PF compared with OMM. Weight gain was significantly associated with protein intake (p=0.006), but not with energy intake (p>0.9). There was no significant difference in linear growth velocity (p=0.08) or headcircumference growth (p=0.31).

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Conclusion: Fortification of human milk compared with feeding own mothers milk alone significantly improved weight gain but not linear growth velocity in premature infants.