Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 7, 2026

Breast Milk Enhances Growth of Enteroids: An Ex Vivo Model of Cell Proliferation
09:02

Breast Milk Enhances Growth of Enteroids: An Ex Vivo Model of Cell Proliferation

Published on: February 15, 2018

Feeding preterm infants after hospital discharge: growth and development at 18 months of age

R J Cooke1, N D Embleton, I J Griffin

  • 1Special Care Baby Unit, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom. R.J.Cooke@ncl.ac.uk

Pediatric Research
|May 1, 2001
PubMed

Insights

Preterm infant formula improves growth up to 18 months, but does not affect development. Sex impacts growth and developmental outcomes in high-risk infants.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal nutrition
  • Pediatric growth and development
  • Infant feeding practices

Background:

  • Preterm infants fed preterm formula exhibit improved growth post-discharge compared to those on term formula.
  • Early growth differences in preterm infants warrant investigation into long-term effects on growth and development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess if enhanced early growth in preterm infants fed preterm formula is linked to improved later growth and neurodevelopmental outcomes.
  • To evaluate the long-term impact of different infant formulas on growth and development up to 18 months corrected age.

Main Methods:

  • Randomized controlled trial involving preterm infants (birth weight ≤1750 g, gestation ≤34 wk) assigned to preterm formula, term formula, or a combination.
  • Anthropometric measurements (weight, length, occipitofrontal circumference) taken at 12 weeks, 6, 12, and 18 months corrected age.
  • Bayley Scales of Infant Development II administered at 18 months to assess mental (MDI) and psychomotor (PDI) development.

Main Results:

  • Growth differences observed at 12 weeks were sustained through 18 months.
  • At 18 months, boys on preterm formula were heavier, longer, and had larger head circumference than boys on term formula.
  • No significant differences in MDI or PDI were found between formula groups, but boys generally had lower MDI than girls, particularly those on term formula.

Conclusions:

  • Early nutrition with preterm formula has lasting positive effects on growth in preterm infants up to 18 months corrected age.
  • Infant feeding strategies do not appear to influence neurodevelopmental outcomes (MDI, PDI) by 18 months corrected age.
  • Sex is a significant factor influencing growth and developmental assessments in high-risk preterm infants, necessitating consideration in analyses.

More Related Videos

A Common Marmoset Model of Mother-Infant Intervention for Breastfeeding Disorders in the Presence of Paternal Inhibition and Maternal Neglect05:04

A Common Marmoset Model of Mother-Infant Intervention for Breastfeeding Disorders in the Presence of Paternal Inhibition and Maternal Neglect

Published on: September 22, 2023

Non-Nutritive Suck Parameters Measurements Using a Custom Pressure Transducer System06:19

Non-Nutritive Suck Parameters Measurements Using a Custom Pressure Transducer System

Published on: April 19, 2024

Related Concept Videos

Physical Growth During Infancy and Toddlerhood01:18

Physical Growth During Infancy and Toddlerhood

Physical growth is especially rapid during the first three years of life, with the greatest rate in the first few months after birth. Although children continue to gain height and weight throughout infancy and toddlerhood, the rate of growth gradually slows during the second and third years. At most ages, boys are typically slightly taller and heavier than girls, reflecting a common pattern of early physical development.Changes in Body ProportionsAs infants become toddlers, their body...
Vision During Infancy and Toddlerhood01:23

Vision During Infancy and Toddlerhood

At birth, vision is the least developed of the major senses because the visual system is still structurally and neurologically immature. The retinas, optic nerves, and visual regions of the brain continue to mature after birth. As a result, newborns have limited visual acuity, or sharpness and clarity of vision, and respond best to objects viewed at close range, roughly 8 to 12 inches away.Rapid Visual DevelopmentVision improves rapidly during the first few months as infants observe and...
Enteral Nutrition II: Nasointestinal and Gastrostomy Feeding01:15

Enteral Nutrition II: Nasointestinal and Gastrostomy Feeding

Enteral nutrition encompasses various methods of delivering nutrition directly to the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, bypassing traditional oral intake. It is particularly beneficial for patients who cannot eat by mouth but have a functioning digestive system. Key methods include nasointestinal feeding, gastrostomy, and jejunostomy, each suited to different clinical scenarios based on the patient's needs and condition.
Nasointestinal Feeding
Nasointestinal feeding involves placing a tube through...
Principles of Development01:31

Principles of Development

Physical development during the prenatal period and early childhood follows two major directional principles: cephalocaudal and proximodistal development. These general patterns happen simultaneously and help explain changes in body proportions and the gradual development of motor skills.Cephalocaudal DevelopmentThe cephalocaudal principle describes development from the head downward toward the lower body. During prenatal development, the head and brain structures develop rapidly before many...
Development of Head Control During Infancy01:05

Development of Head Control During Infancy

The control of head posture and movement is an important early milestone in motor development. During the first four months of life, infants gradually learn to stabilize and move their heads against gravity. Head control depends on the gradual strengthening and coordination of the neck, shoulder, and upper trunk muscles.Early Head MovementsAt birth, infants have limited control over their heads because their neck muscles are still weak. While lying on their backs, newborns can usually turn...
Development of Human Microbiota01:30

Development of Human Microbiota

The human microbiota begins developing at birth and undergoes continual change as we age. Infancy marks a critical period of microbial sensitivity, offering a “window of opportunity” during which beneficial microbes help mature the immune system. By age three, children typically develop a more stable and diverse microbial community. Newborns acquire microbes from their immediate environment; vaginal delivery favors maternal vaginal microbes, while cesarean births favor microbes from the skin...