Neurodevelopmental Outcome in Very Low Birth Weight Infants Exposed to Donor Milk

Area of Science:

• Neonatology
• Neurodevelopmental Pediatrics
• Infant Nutrition

Background:

• Donor milk (DM) use is rising for very low birth weight (VLBW) infants, but its effect on neurodevelopmental (ND) outcomes remains unclear.
• Optimizing nutrition is critical for VLBW infants to support healthy growth and development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of donor milk (DM) received within the first 28 days of life (DOL) on neurodevelopmental (ND) outcomes at 20 months corrected age (CA) in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants.

Main Methods:

• Comparison of VLBW infants receiving mother's own milk (MOM) and/or preterm formula (PF) (n=84) versus those receiving MOM and/or DM (n=69) between 2011-2014.
• Daily enteral intake of MOM, DM, and PF recorded through 28 DOL.
• Neurodevelopmental outcomes assessed using the Bayley-III at 20 months CA, with regression analyses accounting for confounding factors.

Main Results:

• Infants receiving DM were born to older mothers and had a higher incidence of severe brain injury.
• Despite earlier first feeds in the DM group, mother's own milk (MOM) intake at DOL 14 and 28 was similar between groups.
• Donor milk (DM) exposure was not a significant predictor of 20-month neurodevelopmental outcomes in adjusted regression analyses.

Conclusions:

• No significant difference in neurodevelopmental outcomes was observed between VLBW infants born before and after the introduction of donor milk.
• Similar high rates of mother's own milk (MOM) provision at 14 and 28 days of life in both study periods may explain the lack of difference in neurodevelopmental outcomes.
• Donor milk (DM) was not associated with improved neurodevelopmental outcomes in this cohort of VLBW infants.