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Early aggressive nutrition enhances language development in very low-birthweight infants

So-Yeon Shim1, Hye Mi Ahn1, Su Jin Cho1

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Ewha Womans University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Pediatrics International : Official Journal of the Japan Pediatric Society
|April 23, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Early aggressive protein and energy intake in very-low-birthweight (VLBW) infants improves growth and language development. Higher first-week nutrition is linked to better 18-month neurodevelopmental outcomes and weight gain.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Nutrition
  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Growth and Development

Background:

  • Inadequate nutrition in very-low-birthweight (VLBW) infants is linked to poor growth and neurological outcomes.
  • Early nutritional intervention is crucial for VLBW infant development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between early aggressive protein and energy intake and weight gain.
  • To examine the impact of early nutrition on 18-month neurodevelopmental outcomes in VLBW infants.

Main Methods:

  • 90 VLBW infants were divided into early aggressive nutrition (n=52) and conventional nutrition (n=38) groups.
  • Daily protein and energy intakes were recorded for the first 4 weeks.
  • Multiple regression analyses assessed the link between nutrition and outcomes at 18 months corrected age.

Main Results:

  • The early aggressive nutrition group showed higher rates of normal language development and reduced growth failure.
  • Higher first-week protein and energy intake independently predicted normal language development.
  • Increased first-week protein intake correlated with higher weight at 40 weeks corrected age.

Conclusions:

  • Early protein and energy intake in the first week of life is vital for VLBW infant growth.
  • Adequate early nutrition positively impacts language development in VLBW infants.
  • Aggressive early nutrition strategies may improve long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes.
Abstract

Keywords:
Denver Developmental Screening Testlanguagenutritionvery-low-birthweight infantsweight

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