• Recent advances in nutritional support and postnatal growth in premature infants

    Senterre T. , Rigo J.
    Rev Med Liege 2013, 68(2),79-85

    Abstract : Nutrition has always been described as challenging in premature infants, especially in very low birth weight (VLBW, < 1500 g) infants. Therefore, postnatal malnutrition is frequently observed in these infants and most develop a severe postnatal growth restriction with a very high incidence of hypotrophy at term corrected age. Otherwise, both insufficient nutritional intakes and postnatal growth restriction during the perinatal period have been associated with adverse developmental outcomes. In this article, an optimized nutritional policy characterized by a standardization of nutritional support is discussed. This policy implies the use of one standardized parenteral nutrition solution and a rapidly enriched feeding regimen. Recent studies in VLBW infants have demonstrated that this approach is associated with significant improvement of nutritional support, postnatal growth and biological homeostasis. Only 6% of appropriate for gestational age infants at birth were described small for gestational age at discharge. This policy has recently been reproduced by the industry that developed the first manufactured triple-chamber parenteral nutrition bags specifically designed for premature infants. It represents a great opportunity for premature infants to improve their development and long-term outcomes.

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