Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 20, 2026
Transcutaneous Microcirculatory Imaging in Preterm Neonates
Published on: December 31, 2015
[Quality of post-discharge growth in small for gestational age preterm infants: an explorative study]
1Istitute of Pediatrics and Neonatology, Fondazione IRCCS "Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Mangiagalli e Regina Elena", University of Milan.
Insights
For preterm infants born small for gestational age (SGA), different post-discharge formula types did not impact early growth or body composition. Nutritional management in this period may not influence catch-up growth in SGA infants.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal nutrition
- Pediatric growth and development
- Metabolic syndrome research
Background:
- Preterm newborns, particularly those small for gestational age (SGA), face risks of post-natal growth failure and altered body composition.
- Infant nutrition during a critical window may influence the development of metabolic syndrome later in life.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if the post-discharge period is critical for catch-up growth in small for gestational age (SGA) infants.
- To determine if nutritional management (standard vs. enriched formula) impacts later metabolic syndrome development in SGA infants.
- To test the hypothesis that early nutrition programs catch-up growth and metabolic outcomes.
Main Methods:
- A randomized clinical trial involving 27 preterm SGA infants (gestational age ≤ 33 weeks, birth weight ≤ 1500 g).
- Infants received either standard (67 Kcal/100 ml, 1.4 g protein/100 ml) or enriched (75 Kcal/100 ml, 2 g protein/100 ml) formula post-discharge.
- Growth and body composition were assessed using air displacement at 36 weeks, 15 days, and 1 month adjusted age.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in weight, fat mass, length, or head circumference were observed between the standard and enriched formula groups.
- These findings were consistent at both 15 days and 1 month of adjusted age.
Conclusions:
- The early post-discharge nutritional management with standard or enriched formula did not influence SGA infant growth in terms of quantity or quality.
- This explorative study suggests that the post-discharge period's nutritional interventions may not be the primary driver for catch-up growth programming in SGA infants.
Objectives:
The Preterm newborns, especially if born small for gestational age (SGA), appear to be at risk for developing post-natal growth failure and an altered body composition. Nutrition-related growth during a critical window in infancy may affect the development of metabolic syndrome in adult life. Aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that the post-discharge period is critical for programming the catch up growth and the later development of metabolic syndrome in small for gestational-age infants fed either standard or enriched formula.
Methods:
A clinic randomized explorative study was conducted. Twenty-seven preterm SGA infants (gestational age < or = 33 weeks; birth weight < or = 1500 g) underwent assessment of growth and body composition by means of an air displacement system at 36 weeks, 15 days and 1 months adjusted age. SGA infants were randomized to receive standard formula (Kcal: 67/100 ml, proteins: 1,4 g/100 ml) or enriched formula (Kcal: 75/100 ml, proteins: 2 g/100 ml) after discharge.
Results:
No differences in weight, fat mass, length and head circumference were found in SGA infants fed standard formula as compared to those fed enriched formula at 15 day or 1 months adjusted age.
Conclusions:
This explorative study suggests that in SGA infants growth, both in terms of quantity and quality, is not influenced by different nutritional management during the early post-discharge period.
