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Energy expenditure in the extremely low-birth weight infant

C A Leitch1, S C Denne

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, USA. cleitch@iupui.edu

Clinics in Perinatology
|February 26, 2000
PubMed

Insights

Energy needs for extremely low-birth weight infants are not well-defined due to limited data on intake and expenditure variability. Current estimates suggest requirements likely exceed those of very low-birth weight infants.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal nutrition
  • Pediatric metabolism

Background:

  • Survival rates for extremely low-birth weight (ELBW) infants are improving.
  • Accurate data on the energy requirements of ELBW infants is limited.
  • Metabolizable energy intake is approximately 87% of caloric intake.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current knowledge on energy requirements in ELBW infants.
  • To highlight the variability and lack of established recommendations.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on energy balance and expenditure in premature infants.
  • Analysis of factors influencing energy intake and expenditure.

Main Results:

  • Energy expenditure increases with postnatal age in premature infants.
  • Significant variability exists in energy requirements due to multiple influencing factors.
  • No definitive recommendations for optimal energy requirements can be made.

Conclusions:

  • Optimal energy requirements for ELBW infants remain undetermined.
  • ELBW infant energy needs likely surpass those of very low-birth weight infants (105-135 kcal/kg/day).

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