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Published on: July 28, 2022
[The contribution of enteral nutrition in the premature infant]
1Dipartimento di Pediatria Università degli Studi La Sapienza, Roma.
Insights
Optimal nutrition for premature infants is crucial for survival and long-term health. Current guidelines offer macronutrient and micronutrient targets for feeding very low birth weight infants.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal care and nutrition science.
Context:
- Advances in obstetrical and neonatal care have improved survival rates for preterm and very low birth weight infants.
- Timely and adequate nutrition is critical for the short- and long-term outcomes of these high-risk infants.
- There is a lack of consensus among neonatologists regarding the optimal approach to enteral feeding for preterm infants.
Purpose:
- To summarize current understanding and guidelines on nutritional support for preterm infants.
- To highlight the importance of individualized feeding strategies based on recent recommendations.
Summary:
- The preferred nutrition for premature infants is fortified mother's milk or specialized formula.
- Recent European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) guidelines provide specific intake levels for macro- and micronutrients.
- These guidelines aim to standardize and optimize nutritional management for vulnerable newborns.
Impact:
- Improved nutritional protocols can enhance growth and development in preterm infants.
- Standardized guidelines may reduce variability in clinical practice and improve patient outcomes.
- Further research may refine nutrient recommendations for specific subgroups of preterm infants.
Abstract:
In recent years, improvements in obstetrical and neonatal care have significantly improved survival in preterm and, particularily, the very low birth weight infant. Several studies stress the importance of timely and adequate nutrition in these high-risk infants on a short- and long-term. Presently, there is little consensus among the neonatologists concerning the optimal way to initiate, advance or maintain enteral feeding in preterm Infants. The preferred food for premature infants is fortified milk from the infant's own mother or,alternatively, formula designed for premature infants. The recent guidelines proposed by ESPGHAN Committee on Nutrition provide minimal and maximal levels of intake for individual macro- and micro-nutrients.
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