Effect of olive oil massage on weight gain in preterm infants: A randomized controlled clinical trial
Mahnaz Jabraeile1, Alehe Seyyed Rasooly1, Mahni Rahkar Farshi1
1Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Insights
Olive oil massage significantly increases weight gain in preterm infants compared to massage without oil. This simple intervention can aid neonatal development and is recommended for use in neonatal units.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal care
- Pediatric dermatology
- Infant nutrition
Background:
- The impact of massage with or without oil on infant weight gain is not fully understood.
- Studies suggest essential oil massage enhances skin lipid absorption.
- Research is needed to clarify the specific effects of different massage oils on infant development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the effect of olive oil massage on the weight gain of preterm infants.
- To compare weight gain in preterm infants receiving olive oil massage versus those receiving massage without oil.
Main Methods:
- A single-blind, randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted.
- Preterm infants were divided into two groups: olive oil massage and non-oil massage.
- Daily weight measurements were taken for 10 days.
Main Results:
- Infants receiving olive oil massage gained an average of 21g daily.
- Infants receiving massage without oil gained an average of 7g daily.
- The difference in weight gain was statistically significant (P < 0.001).
Conclusions:
- Olive oil massage has a positive and significant effect on weight gain in preterm infants.
- It is recommended that nurses incorporate olive oil into infant massage practices in neonatal units.
- This intervention may support healthier neonatal development.
Background:
Despite the fact that effect of massage with or without oil on the baby's weight gain is not clear, but recent studies have shown that massage with essential oils make lipid absorption through the skin. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of olive oil massage on weight gain in preterm infants.
Materials And Methods:
This study was a single-blind, randomized controlled clinical trial. In this study, infants who met inclusion criteria for the study were divided into two groups by using random numbers table. Newborns in intervention group were under massage for 10 days and 3 times for 15 min daily; the mother of these newborns had been trained already using olive oil. Moreover, the infants of the control group were under massaging without oil same as the above-mentioned method. Researchers weighed babies daily during 10 days and recorded it at the checklist. Data from the study were reviewed and analyzed by descriptive statistics and repeated measure test using the statistical software SPSS/13.
Results:
This study showed that the neonatal weight gain in the infants with the oil massage was 21 g daily in average, whereas the increase in infant massage without oil was 7 g. This difference was statistically significant (P < 0.001).
Conclusion:
Considering the positive effect of infant massage on weight gain in premature infants with olive oil, it is recommended that nurses use oil in infant massage in the neonatal units.
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