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Enhanced nutrient supply to very low birth weight infants is associated with improved white matter maturation and

Kenneth Strømmen1, Elin W Blakstad, Sissel J Moltu

  • 1Department of Neonatal Intensive Care, Women and Children's Division, Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway.

Neonatology
|November 18, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Enhanced nutrition improved growth and brain development in very low birth weight infants. This study found better growth velocity and head circumference growth, alongside improved cerebral white matter maturation, in infants receiving enhanced nutrient supply.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal nutrition
  • Pediatric neurodevelopment
  • Growth restriction

Background:

  • Extrauterine growth restriction is common in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants.
  • Optimal postnatal nutrition is crucial for growth and neurodevelopment in VLBW infants.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare enhanced versus standard postnatal nutrient supply in VLBW infants.
  • To evaluate the effects on growth velocity, head circumference, and cerebral maturation using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).

Main Methods:

  • A randomized controlled trial involving VLBW infants.
  • Enhanced nutrient supply included increased energy, protein, fat, essential fatty acids, and vitamin A.
  • Cerebral maturation assessed by DTI near term equivalent age.

Main Results:

  • Infants receiving enhanced nutrition showed improved growth velocity (16.5 vs. 13.8 g/kg/day, p=0.01).
  • Head circumference growth was increased (Δz score: 0.24 vs. -0.12, p=0.15).
  • Significantly lower mean diffusivity (MD) in white matter areas (e.g., superior longitudinal fasciculi) was observed (p=0.04).

Conclusions:

  • Enhanced nutrient supply is linked to better growth velocity and head circumference growth in VLBW infants.
  • Decreased white matter mean diffusivity suggests improved maturation of cerebral connective tracts.
Abstract

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