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The effect of multimodal stimulation and cutaneous application of vegetable oils on neonatal development in preterm
L Vaivre-Douret1, D Oriot, P Blossier
1Inserm, U669, Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital, Department of Child Psychiatry, 149 rue de Sèvres, Paris 75015, France. laurence.vaivre@nck.ap-hop-paris.fr
Insights
Multimodal stimulation (SMS) with vegetable oils significantly improved weight gain and neurological development in preterm infants. This combined therapy also reduced hospital stays, offering substantial benefits for neonatal intensive care unit patients.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal care
- Developmental pediatrics
- Dermatology
Background:
- Preterm infants in NICU settings experience sensory deprivation.
- Tactile/kinaesthetic stimulation promotes weight gain in neonates.
- Topical vegetable oils can improve infant growth and skin barrier function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the neurodevelopmental and biological advantages of combining multimodal stimulation (SMS) with topical vegetable oil application.
- To assess the impact of this combined therapy on preterm infant growth and maturation.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involved 49 preterm infants (31-34 weeks gestation).
- Infants received Sensori-Tonico-Motor (STM) touch with sweet almond oil, ISIO4 oil, or placebo (saline) for 10 days, or served as controls.
- Primary outcome was weight gain; secondary outcomes included linear growth, neurological maturation, psychomotor development, and admission duration.
Main Results:
- STM with ISIO4 oil significantly enhanced weight gain (+57%) compared to controls.
- All STM groups experienced shorter hospital stays (mean reduction of 15 days) and increased body length.
- Oil massage groups (almond and ISIO4) showed improved neurological scores, while ISIO4 also boosted psychomotor scores, wakefulness, orientation, and sensorimotor/oculomotor development.
Conclusions:
- Combining STM with vegetable oil application in healthy preterm infants promotes weight gain and neurological development.
- This integrated approach leads to a shorter hospital stay for preterm neonates.
- The therapy also offers dermatological benefits, including improved skin moisturization and faster recovery.
Background:
Preterm newborns admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit are deprived of sensory stimulation. Tactile/kinaesthetic stimulation results in weight gain. Studies involving the cutaneous application of vegetable oils have shown improvement in somatic growth and on skin barrier function.
Objective:
To assess the neurodevelopmental and biological benefits of the simultaneous use of multimodal stimulation (SMS) and the cutaneous application of vegetable oils. Setting Tertiary referral centre serving the Poitou-Charentes region of France.
Methods:
Randomized controlled trial of 49 low-risk preterm infants, born at 31- to 34-week gestation. Each infant was randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups, Sensori-Tonico-Motor (STM) touch for 10 days with either: sweet almond oil, ISIO4 blended oil, or placebo - normal saline, or to a control group who did not receive any intervention. The primary outcome was weight gain. Secondary outcomes were linear growth, neurological maturation, psychomotor development and number of days of admission. Analysis was by intention-to-treat.
Results:
The group who received STM with ISIO4 oil demonstrated enhanced weight gain (+57%, 95% CI 37-76) compared with controls (P = 0.030). All STM groups showed shorter admission times (mean reduction 15 days, 95% CI 23-50 days hospitalised, P = 0.005), and an increase in body length (P = 0.030). Both groups of oil massaged babies (almond and ISIO4) showed an increased neurological score (P = 0.001) compared to controls. The infants receiving ISIO4 oil had an associated increase in psychomotor scores (P = 0.028), time spent in quiet wakefulness (P = 0.036), improved orientation (P = 0.036), and enhanced development of the oculomotor (P = 0.012) and sensorimotor (P = 0.003) systems. An additional benefit seen was improved moisturization (P = 0.001), and quicker recovery of dermatological conditions. No adverse dermatological events were observed.
Conclusions:
The combination of STM and cutaneous application of oils to healthy preterm babies resulted in enhanced weight gain and neurological development, and a shorter stay in hospital.
