Small for gestational age preterm infants: nutritional strategies and quality of growth after discharge

Area of Science:

• Neonatology
• Pediatric Nutrition
• Growth and Development

Background:

• Infants born preterm, particularly those small for gestational age (SGA), face significant risks of poor postnatal growth.
• Both SGA and appropriate for gestational age (AGA) preterm infants often exhibit persistent growth failure after hospital discharge.
• Nutritional management post-discharge is crucial but often insufficiently addressed for these vulnerable infants.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of an enriched post-discharge formula on growth patterns in SGA preterm infants.
• To determine if nutritional supplementation can promote catch-up growth in SGA preterm infants after hospital discharge.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial was conducted with SGA preterm infants.
• Infants received either an enriched post-discharge formula or a standard formula.
• Growth parameters including ponderal, linear growth, and body composition were assessed.

Main Results:

• The enriched formula did not significantly alter ponderal or linear growth, failing to induce early catch-up growth.
• A notable change in growth quality was observed: fat mass accretion decelerated post-term.
• Concurrently, there was an increase in fat-free mass accretion in infants receiving the enriched formula.

Conclusions:

• Enriched post-discharge formula does not enhance catch-up growth in SGA preterm infants.
• The intervention influenced body composition, shifting accretion towards fat-free mass.
• Further research with longer follow-up and personalized nutrition strategies is recommended.