Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 18, 2026

Effect of Hyaluronic Acid 35 kDa on an In Vitro Model of Preterm Small Intestinal Injury and Healing Using Enteroid-Derived Monolayers
09:36

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

Effect of nutrition on growth and body composition in infants born preterm

Paola Roggero1, Maria L Giannì, Pasqua Piemontese

  • 1Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milan, Milan, Italy. paola.roggero@unimi.it

The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine : the Official Journal of the European Association of Perinatal Medicine, the Federation of Asia and Oceania Perinatal Societies, the International Society of Perinatal Obstetricians
|September 29, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Optimizing nutrition for preterm infants is crucial for growth and neurodevelopment. Early nutritional strategies improve growth and body composition, positively impacting long-term health outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatology
  • Pediatric Nutrition
  • Infant Growth and Development

Background:

  • Increased survival of preterm infants necessitates optimized nutritional management.
  • Adequate growth in preterm infants is linked to favorable neurodevelopmental outcomes.
  • Preterm infants often experience nutrient deficiencies and growth restriction by discharge, alongside aberrant adiposity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the impact of early nutritional strategies on preterm infant growth.
  • To assess the effect of these strategies on body composition at term-corrected age.
  • To emphasize the importance of monitoring growth and body composition for long-term health.

Main Methods:

  • Implementation of targeted nutritional interventions shortly after birth.
  • Monitoring of infant growth parameters.
  • Assessment of body composition at term-corrected age.

Main Results:

  • Early nutritional strategies demonstrated excellent results in promoting growth.
  • These interventions did not negatively affect body composition at term-corrected age.
  • Growth patterns and body composition changes are critical indicators.

Conclusions:

  • Early nutritional interventions are effective for preterm infants' growth and body composition.
  • Continuous monitoring of growth and body composition is essential for long-term health.
  • Optimized nutrition plays a vital role in the overall well-being of preterm infants.

Related Concept Videos

Nature and Nurture01:10

Nature and Nurture

Many human characteristics, like height, are shaped by both nature—in other words, by our genes—and by nurture, or our environment. For example, chronic stress during childhood inhibits the production of growth hormones and consequently reduces bone growth and height. Scientists estimate that 70-90% of variation in height is due to genetic differences among individuals, and 10-30% of variation in height is due to differences in the environments that individuals experience, such as differences...
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,...
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...
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...
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: 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...