Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 2, 2026
Breast Milk Enhances Growth of Enteroids: An Ex Vivo Model of Cell Proliferation
Published on: February 15, 2018
[Effect of breastfeeding versus formula milk feeding on preterm infants in the neonatal intensive care unit]
Yong-Wei Li1, Chao-Ying Yan, Lei Yang
1Department of Neonatology, Bethune First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130000, China. yanchaoying224@126.com.
Insights
Exclusive breastfeeding significantly benefits preterm infants (28-33 weeks gestation) by promoting weight gain and reducing feeding intolerance and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Formula feeding did not show these advantages in this vulnerable group.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Nutrition
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Infant Development
Background:
- Preterm infants require specialized nutritional support to optimize growth and minimize complications.
- Breastfeeding offers numerous benefits, but its specific impact on very preterm infants across different gestational ages requires detailed investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of exclusive breastfeeding versus formula feeding in preterm infants.
- To compare the effects on weight gain, key laboratory markers, and the incidence of feeding intolerance, necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 639 preterm infants (28+3-36+6 weeks gestation) were divided into exclusive breastfeeding (n=237) and formula feeding (n=402) groups.
- Outcomes assessed included weight gain, albumin (Alb) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels, feeding intolerance, NEC, and ROP incidence.
Main Results:
- In infants aged 28-30 weeks, breastfeeding led to faster weight gain, lower NEC rates, higher ALP, and lower Alb levels compared to formula.
- For infants aged 31-33 weeks, breastfeeding showed faster weight gain, reduced feeding intolerance, shorter hospital stays, and higher ALP levels.
- No significant differences were observed between groups for infants aged 34-36 weeks.
Conclusions:
- Exclusive breastfeeding is crucial for preterm infants (28-33 weeks gestation), enhancing weight gain and decreasing feeding intolerance and NEC.
- The benefits of breastfeeding are most pronounced in the earlier preterm groups, highlighting the importance of tailored nutritional strategies.
Objective:
To investigate the importance of breastfeeding in preterm infants with various gestational ages.
Methods:
A total of 639 preterm infants with a gestational age of 28+3-36+6 weeks were enrolled, and according to the feeding pattern, they were divided into exclusive breastfeeding group (n=237) and formula milk feeding group (fed with liquid milk for preterm infants; n=402). These two feeding patterns were compared in terms of their effects on weight gain, laboratory markers including albumin (Alb) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), incidence rate of feeding intolerance, and incidence rates of complications including necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).
Results:
Compared with the formula milk feeding group, the breastfeeding group had a significantly faster increase in body weight, a significantly lower incidence rate of NEC, a significantly higher ALP level, and a significantly lower Alb level in the preterm infants with a gestational age of 28-30 weeks (P<0.05); there were no significant differences between the two groups in the incidence rates of anemia, ROP, bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), and nosocomial infection and length of hospital stay (P>0.05). For the preterm infants with a gestational age of 31-33 weeks, the breastfeeding group had a significantly faster increase in body weight, a significantly lower incidence rate of feeding intolerance, a significantly shorter length of hospital stay, and a significantly higher ALP level (P<0.05); there were no significant differences between the two groups in the incidence rates of NEC, anemia, ROP, BPD, and nosocomial infection and the Alb level (P>0.05). For the preterm infants with a gestational age of 34-36 weeks, there were no significant differences in these indices between the two groups (P>0.05).
Conclusions:
Breastfeeding plays an important role in increasing body weight, reducing the incidence rates of feeding intolerance and NEC, and shortening the length of hospital stay in preterm infants with a gestational age of 28-33 weeks.
More Related Videos
05:04A Common Marmoset Model of Mother-Infant Intervention for Breastfeeding Disorders in the Presence of Paternal Inhibition and Maternal Neglect
Published on: September 22, 2023
09:36Effect of Hyaluronic Acid 35 kDa on an In Vitro Model of Preterm Small Intestinal Injury and Healing Using Enteroid-Derived Monolayers
Published on: July 28, 2022
Related Concept Videos
01:29Drug Dosing: Infants and Children
01:15Enteral Nutrition II: Nasointestinal and Gastrostomy Feeding
Nasointestinal Feeding
Nasointestinal feeding involves placing a tube...