Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 10, 2025
A Clinical Trial Assessing the Safety, Efficacy, and Delivery of Olive-Oil-Based Three-Chamber Bags for Parenteral Nutrition
Published on: September 20, 2019
Early Versus Delayed Enteral Feeding for Achieving Full Feeding in Preterm Growth-Restricted Infants: A Randomized
F Ahmed1, S K Dey, M Shahidullah
1Dr Farzana Ahmed, Associate Professor & Head, Department of Paediatrics, Marks Medical College Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh;
Insights
Early enteral feeding is beneficial for preterm infants with growth restriction. It helps them reach full feeding faster, regain birth weight quicker, and reduces hospital stays and complications like sepsis and feeding intolerance.
Area of Science:
- Neonatology
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Perinatal Medicine
Background:
- Optimal enteral nutrition is critical for growth-restricted preterm infants to prevent adverse physical and neurodevelopmental outcomes.
- Antenatal chronic hypoxia increases susceptibility to feeding intolerance and necrotizing enterocolitis in these vulnerable infants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of early versus delayed enteral feeding on growth-restricted preterm infants.
- To assess the safety and efficacy of initiating enteral nutrition sooner in small for gestational age neonates.
Main Methods:
- A randomized clinical trial involving 50 growth-restricted preterm infants (small for gestational age).
- Infants were randomly assigned to either an early feeding group (n=25) or a late feeding group (n=25).
- Clinical characteristics were balanced at trial entry.
Main Results:
- The early feeding group reached full enteral feeds significantly faster (p=0.001; Hazard ratio 1.24).
- Early feeding was associated with faster birth weight regain, reduced neonatal sepsis incidence, fewer feeding intolerances, and shorter hospital stays.
- Higher weight gain was observed in the early feeding group by postnatal day 16.
Conclusions:
- Early enteral feeding is safe and beneficial for growth-restricted preterm infants.
- It effectively reduces the time to achieve full enteral feeding and promotes better weight gain.
- This approach may improve overall outcomes for this high-risk neonatal population.
Abstract:
Optimal enteral nutrition is essential for growth restricted preterm infants because if nutrition remains suboptimal during early days of life, physical and neuro-developmental outcome might be in danger. However, chronic hypoxia during antenatal period makes them susceptible for feeding intolerance and necrotising enterocolitis during post natal period. So this randomized clinical trial was conducted in the department of Neonatology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh from January 2018 to June 2019; to evaluate the effect of early versus delayed enteral feeding on preterm growth-restricted infants. During the study period, out of 127 infants with small for gestational age, 50 babies were enrolled and randomly assigned to either early feeding group (n=25) or late feeding group (n=25). Clinical characteristics at trial entry were well balanced between groups. Newborn enrolled in early feeding group reached full feed significantly faster than late feeding group (p=0.001; Hazard ratio 1.24). Early feeding group regained birth weight faster; experienced lesser incidence of neonatal sepsis, experienced less number of feed intolerance, had shorter mean duration of hospital stay and achieved higher weight on post natal age 16th days. All values were statistically significant. Early enteral feeding found to be safe and beneficial in reducing the time to reach full enteral feeding and better weight gain in growth restricted preterm infants.
Related Concept Videos
01:15Enteral Nutrition II: Nasointestinal and Gastrostomy Feeding
Nasointestinal Feeding
Nasointestinal feeding involves placing a tube...
01:26Enteral Nutrition I: Orogastric and Nasogastric Feeding
Orogastric (OG) and nasogastric (NG) feeding are two standard methods used for enteral nutrition. Enteral nutrition is often preferred over...
01:18Drug Delivery: Enteral Route
01:23Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption
01:27Parentral Nutrition: Centeral and Peripheral Parental Nutrition
PN can be administered through two primary routes:
1. Central Parenteral Nutrition (CPN):
CPN involves delivering a high concentration of nutrients through a large vein. This is typically achieved using a Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC) or,...
01:15Bioavailability Study Design: Healthy Subjects Versus Patients