Meeting the nutritional needs of premature babies: their future is in our hands

The goals of early nutrition in preterm infants are to provide all the necessary vital nutrients, achieve extra-uterine growth rates similar to fetuses of the same gestational age, and support functional neurodevelopmental outcomes that are comparable to those of infants born at term. It is vital to provide nutrition that will maximally support brain growth and development, but over-feeding with accelerated growth, fat accumulation and long-term metabolic consequences should also be avoided. Because the morbidity associated with prematurity increases nutritional and energetic demands, the basic approach is of providing early intensive nutrition. Protein is the main driving force for growth and brain development. Since deficits in protein occur from the first day of extra-uterine life, sufficient quantities of parenteral amino acids should be provided from the first hours of life. With protein and carbohydrates, enough energy should also be provided, via concomitant early administration of intravenous lipid emulsions. Early initiation of enteral feeding with advancement to full enteral nutrition is associated with better maturation of the gut and better neuro-developmental outcomes. Human milk is the best food for preterm babies, although enrichment may be needed.