Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 13, 2026

Development of a Neonatal Piglet Acute Lung Injury Model Recreating the Early Environment of Preterm Infant Lungs
08:58

Development of a Neonatal Piglet Acute Lung Injury Model Recreating the Early Environment of Preterm Infant Lungs

Published on: October 31, 2025

Feeding preterm infants today for later metabolic and cardiovascular outcomes

Alexandre Lapillonne1, Ian J Griffin

  • 1Department of Neonatology, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris Necker Hospital, Paris Descartes University, Paris, France. alexandre.lapillonne@nck.aphp.fr

The Journal of Pediatrics
|March 1, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Preterm birth impacts long-term health. While early growth has limited effect on adult cardiovascular and metabolic health, childhood nutrition is crucial for well-being.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal studies
  • Pediatric nutrition
  • Developmental biology

Background:

  • Preterm birth leads to neonatal morbidity and long-term health issues like hypertension and insulin resistance.
  • The impact of growth rates and nutrition on preterm infants' long-term outcomes requires further investigation.
  • Understanding these effects is crucial for improving long-term health in preterm populations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the effects of fetal growth, postnatal growth, and early nutrition on long-term cardiovascular and metabolic outcomes in preterm infants.
  • To analyze how different growth periods and nutritional interventions influence health trajectories.
  • To identify research gaps in understanding nutrition's role in preterm infant development and health.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of existing studies on preterm infant growth and nutrition.
  • Analysis of evidence linking early development to later cardiovascular and metabolic health.
  • Synthesis of findings regarding the impact of nutrition during hospitalization and post-discharge.

Main Results:

  • Early undernutrition can adversely affect development.
  • Growth between birth and 12-18 months post-term shows no significant effect on later blood pressure or metabolic syndrome.
  • Reduced growth during hospitalization significantly impacts neurodevelopment, while later childhood growth is key for metabolic and cardiovascular health.

Conclusions:

  • Nutritional interventions during late infancy and childhood warrant further study for improving long-term health.
  • There is a lack of well-designed studies on the effects of nutrition on preterm infants' development and risk of hypertension or insulin resistance.
  • Targeted nutritional support during critical growth periods may mitigate long-term health risks.

More Related Videos

Transcutaneous Microcirculatory Imaging in Preterm Neonates06:27

Transcutaneous Microcirculatory Imaging in Preterm Neonates

Published on: December 31, 2015

Non-Nutritive Suck Parameters Measurements Using a Custom Pressure Transducer System06:19

Non-Nutritive Suck Parameters Measurements Using a Custom Pressure Transducer System

Published on: April 19, 2024

Related Concept Videos

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,...
Enteral Nutrition II: Nasointestinal and Gastrostomy Feeding01:15

Enteral Nutrition II: Nasointestinal and Gastrostomy Feeding

Enteral nutrition encompasses various methods of delivering nutrition directly to the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, bypassing traditional oral intake. It is particularly beneficial for patients who cannot eat by mouth but have a functioning digestive system. Key methods include nasointestinal feeding, gastrostomy, and jejunostomy, each suited to different clinical scenarios based on the patient's needs and condition.
Nasointestinal Feeding
Nasointestinal feeding involves placing a tube through...
Drug Dosing: Infants and Children01:29

Drug Dosing: Infants and Children

Pediatric patient dosages diverge from adults due to disparities in body surface area, total body water, and extracellular fluid per kilogram of body weight. The dosing regimen considers the variations in pharmacokinetics and pharmacology across distinct age groups, encompassing preterm newborns, infants, young children, older children, and adolescents. Calculation of pediatric patient doses is predicated on determining body surface area, which exhibits a superior correlation with the child's...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism01:24

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism

In pediatric care, understanding the nuances of hepatic drug metabolism is crucial, as it significantly differs from that of adults. This divergence is primarily due to the developmental stage of drug-metabolizing enzymes, which affects how medications are processed in the body. In neonates, for instance, the activity of Phase I enzymes—critical for the initial breakdown of drugs—is markedly reduced, functioning at just 20–40% of the levels seen in adults. This reduction poses a challenge in...
Enteral Nutrition I: Orogastric and Nasogastric Feeding01:26

Enteral Nutrition I: Orogastric and Nasogastric Feeding

Enteral nutrition delivers nutrients directly to the stomach or small intestine through a tube. This method is appropriate for patients who cannot eat but still have a functioning digestive system. It is also beneficial for individuals with swallowing difficulties, anorexia, malabsorption, or those who have undergone gastrointestinal (GI) surgery.
Orogastric (OG) and nasogastric (NG) feeding are two standard methods used for enteral nutrition. Enteral nutrition is often preferred over...
Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational01:22

Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational

Type 2 diabetes, characterized by insulin resistance, arises when the insulin receptors on cells lose responsiveness to insulin, diminishing the cell's capacity to take up glucose, resulting in elevated blood glucose levels. To receive a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes, a series of blood glucose tests are necessary to assess whether the blood glucose falls within normal parameters. If the result is out of the normal range, a patient may be diagnosed as prediabetic or diabetic, depending on the...