Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 15, 2026

A Common Marmoset Model of Mother-Infant Intervention for Breastfeeding Disorders in the Presence of Paternal Inhibition and Maternal Neglect
05:04

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

Adiposity is not altered in preterm infants fed with a nutrient-enriched formula after hospital discharge

Richard J Cooke1, Ian J Griffin, Kenny McCormick

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital, St Louis, Missouri 63104, USA. richardjcooke@mac.com

Pediatric Research
|March 11, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Nutrient-enriched formula for preterm infants promoted catch-up growth, increasing total and peripheral fat mass without altering adiposity. This supports improved body composition in these vulnerable infants.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Nutrition
  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Growth and Development

Background:

  • Preterm infants often experience growth deficits.
  • Nutritional strategies aim to optimize growth and body composition post-discharge.
  • Concerns exist regarding potential effects of specialized formulas on infant adiposity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the impact of different post-discharge feeding regimens on body size and composition in preterm infants.
  • To determine if nutrient-enriched formulas influence adiposity in preterm infants.
  • To compare growth outcomes between preterm infants fed nutrient-enriched, term, or breast milk formulas.

Main Methods:

  • Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was used to assess body composition.
  • Infants were divided into four feeding groups: nutrient-enriched, term infant formula, combined, and breast-fed.
  • Measurements were taken at hospital discharge and at 3, 6, and 12 months corrected age.

Main Results:

  • All infants demonstrated "catch-up" growth.
  • Infants receiving nutrient-enriched formula (Group A) showed greater weight and length compared to other groups.
  • Increased catch-up growth correlated with higher total and peripheral fat mass, particularly in the legs, but not increased fat percentage.

Conclusions:

  • Nutrient-enriched formulas support rapid and complete catch-up growth in preterm infants.
  • This enhanced growth is associated with increased lean mass and peripheral fat accretion, not central or overall adiposity.
  • Current data do not support concerns of increased adiposity with post-discharge nutrient-enriched feeding in preterm infants.

More Related Videos

Concurrent Collection of Fetal Murine Brain and Serum to Assess Effects of Maternal Diet on Nutrition and Neurodevelopment in Neurofibromatosis Type 105:44

Concurrent Collection of Fetal Murine Brain and Serum to Assess Effects of Maternal Diet on Nutrition and Neurodevelopment in Neurofibromatosis Type 1

Published on: May 17, 2024

Effect of Hyaluronic Acid 35 kDa on an In Vitro Model of Preterm Small Intestinal Injury and Healing Using Enteroid-Derived Monolayers09:36

Effect of Hyaluronic Acid 35 kDa on an In Vitro Model of Preterm Small Intestinal Injury and Healing Using Enteroid-Derived Monolayers

Published on: July 28, 2022

Related Concept Videos

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution01:17

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution

Drug distribution in the pediatric population exhibits unique challenges and considerations due to the physiological differences between children, particularly neonates and infants, and adults. A crucial aspect of pediatric pharmacology is understanding how these differences impact the pharmacokinetics of various drugs, necessitating age-specific dosing strategies to ensure efficacy and safety.Neonates and infants have a higher total body water content, ~75%–90% of their body weight, compared...
Parentral Nutrition: Centeral and Peripheral Parental Nutrition01:27

Parentral Nutrition: Centeral and Peripheral Parental Nutrition

Parenteral Nutrition (PN) delivers essential nutrients directly into the bloodstream, bypassing the digestive system. It is commonly used for individuals with severe digestive disorders or conditions that prevent normal nutrient absorption.
PN can be administered through two primary routes:
1. Central Parenteral Nutrition (CPN):
CPN involves delivering a high concentration of nutrients through a large vein. This is typically achieved using a Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC) or,...
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...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption01:23

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption

Understanding the physiological differences in the pediatric population is crucial for effective pharmacotherapy. Neonates, infants, and children exhibit significant variations in gastric pH, gastric emptying time, intestinal transit time, and biliary function. These variations profoundly affect oral drug absorption, necessitating a nuanced approach to pediatric dosing.Neonates present with a unique physiological profile, having a gastric pH greater than 4 and faster and more irregular gastric...
Pharmacokinetics in Obese Patients: Drug Absorption and Distribution01:25

Pharmacokinetics in Obese Patients: Drug Absorption and Distribution

Obesity significantly alters the pharmacokinetic processes of drug absorption and distribution, presenting unique challenges in medical treatment. The increased fat tissue and decreased lean muscle in obese individuals can significantly affect how drugs are absorbed into the body and distributed across different tissues. This alteration can lead to variances in the effectiveness and safety of medications, necessitating adjustments in dosing or drug selection for obese patients.One notable...
Anatomy of the Intestines01:23

Anatomy of the Intestines

Although digestion of proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids may begin in the stomach, it is completed in the intestine. The absorption of nutrients, water, and electrolytes from food and drink also occurs in the intestine. The intestines can be divided into two structurally distinct organs—the small and large intestines.
Small Intestines
The small intestine is an ~7 meter-long tube with an inner diameter of just 2.5 cm. Since most nutrients are absorbed here, the inner lining of the small...