A controlled study of sugar-fortified milk feeding for prevention of neonatal hypoglycaemia

Healthy term, large for gestational age (LGA) infants (130) with blood sugar greater than 30 mg/dl at the age of less than 30 min were randomized into two groups. Group I (study group) babies received sugar-fortified milk formula while group II (control group) received standard milk formula. Milk was fed at a minimum of 80 ml/kg/24 h. The first feed was given within 45 min of birth and subsequently at 2 h of age and then 2 hourly till the age of 24 h. The blood sugar (initial within 30 min of birth) was monitored by dextrostix at the age of 2, 4, 12 and 24 h. The babies on fortified feeds received significantly (P less than 0.001) higher amount of carbohydrate (8.2 mg/kg/min) as compared to those on standard milk (5.2 mg/kg/min). The incidence of hypoglycaemia was reduced significantly (P less than 0.05) by the sugar fortified feeds. The mean blood sugar level in babies receiving fortified feeds was significantly (P less than 0.001) higher at all ages as compared to those receiving standard feeds. Nearly all the babies who subsequently developed hypoglycaemia had an earlier blood sugar level of less than 60 mg/dl. The study shows that sugar-fortified milk feeds are useful in preventing hypoglycaemia in LGA infants and should be routinely recommended in the special care neonatal units of developing countries especially when facilities for monitoring blood sugar are unsatisfactory or unavailable.