Preterm nutritional intake and MRI phenotype at term age: a prospective observational study

Area of Science:

• Neonatal physiology and developmental outcomes.
• Perinatal nutrition and its impact on infant development.

Background:

• Preterm infants (<32 weeks gestation) exhibit unique phenotypes at term-corrected age.
• Understanding the relationship between nutrition, body composition, and neurodevelopment in preterm infants is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between nutrition and the preterm-at-term infant phenotype.
• To compare phenotypic differences between preterm-at-term and healthy term infants.
• To examine associations between somatic and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A prospective observational study was conducted in a UK tertiary neonatal unit.
• Participants included 22 preterm infants (<32 weeks gestation) and 39 healthy term infants.
• Outcomes measured were preterm nutrient intake, adipose tissue (AT) volumes, brain volume, and cerebral arterial vessel tortuosity (CAVT).

Main Results:

• Preterm infants had altered nutrient intake (deficient protein, high carbohydrate/fat) but this did not correlate with AT volumes, brain volume, or CAVT.
• Preterm infants exhibited increased total adiposity, comparable brain volumes, and reduced proximal CAVT scores versus term infants.
• A negative correlation was found between deep subcutaneous abdominal AT volume and brain volume in preterm infants (r=-0.58, p=0.01).

Conclusions:

• Significant phenotypic differences exist between preterm-at-term and term infants, independent of macronutrient intake.
• Preliminary findings suggest human milk intake may positively influence cerebral arterial vessel tortuosity.
• A negative association between adiposity and brain volume in preterm infants at term warrants further investigation.