Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 23, 2026

Breast Milk Enhances Growth of Enteroids: An Ex Vivo Model of Cell Proliferation
09:02

Breast Milk Enhances Growth of Enteroids: An Ex Vivo Model of Cell Proliferation

Published on: February 15, 2018

19.6K

Using Nature to Nurture: Breast Milk Analysis and Fortification to Improve Growth and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in

Katherine Marie Ottolini1, Elizabeth Vinson Schulz1, Catherine Limperopoulos2,3,4

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA.

Nutrients
|December 28, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Premature infants often struggle with growth and development after birth. Individualized fortification of human milk shows promise for improving outcomes in these vulnerable neonates.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatology
  • Pediatric Nutrition
  • Developmental Neuroscience

Background:

  • Premature infants miss critical third-trimester growth, leading to extrauterine growth failure and neurodevelopmental issues.
  • Human milk is recommended for preterm infants but requires fortification to meet high nutritional demands.
  • Standard fortification methods do not account for variations in breast milk composition or infant metabolism.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review emerging methods of individualized fortification for preterm infant nutrition.
  • To highlight the potential of targeted and adjusted fortification strategies.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current literature on preterm infant nutrition and fortification practices.
  • Analysis of emerging individualized fortification techniques compared to standardized methods.

Main Results:

  • Standard fortification may not optimize nutrient delivery due to variability in breast milk and infant needs.
  • Individualized fortification approaches, such as targeted and adjusted fortification, offer a more tailored nutritional strategy.

Conclusions:

  • Individualized fortification holds promise for enhancing postnatal growth in preterm infants.
  • Personalized nutrition strategies may improve neurodevelopmental outcomes for preterm neonates.

Keywords:
breast milkfortificationneurodevelopmentpreterm

More Related Videos

Assessing Cellular Stress and Inflammation in Discrete Oxytocin-secreting Brain Nuclei in the Neonatal Rat Before and After First Colostrum Feeding09:12

Assessing Cellular Stress and Inflammation in Discrete Oxytocin-secreting Brain Nuclei in the Neonatal Rat Before and After First Colostrum Feeding

Published on: November 14, 2018

8.0K
Individualized Reconstitution of Human Milk Microbiota: A Feasible Approach in Real-World Settings04:16

Individualized Reconstitution of Human Milk Microbiota: A Feasible Approach in Real-World Settings

Published on: February 7, 2025

644

Related Concept Videos

Nature and Nurture01:10

Nature and Nurture

Many human characteristics, like height, are shaped by both nature—in other words, by our genes—and by nurture, or our environment. For example, chronic stress during childhood inhibits the production of growth hormones and consequently reduces bone growth and height. Scientists estimate that 70-90% of variation in height is due to genetic differences among individuals, and 10-30% of variation in height is due to differences in the environments that individuals experience, such as differences...
Parental Care00:55

Parental Care

Many animals exhibit parental care behavior, including feeding, grooming, and protecting young offspring. Parental care is universal in mammals and birds, which often have young that are born relatively helpless. Several species of insects and fish, as well as some amphibians, also care for their young.
Environmental Influences on Intelligence01:29

Environmental Influences on Intelligence

Despite the strong genetic influence on traits like intelligence, environmental factors significantly shape outcomes. For example, while over 90% of height variation is due to genetic differences, environmental factors such as nutrition also have a notable impact. Similarly, for intelligence, changes in a child's surroundings can significantly alter their IQ. Research shows that enriched environments boost children's academic success and help them develop key cognitive skills. Children from...
The Nativist Approach01:21

The Nativist Approach

The nativist approach to infant cognitive development proposes that infants are born with inherent knowledge structures that allow them to interpret the world almost immediately. This perspective contrasts with earlier developmental theories, such as those proposed by Jean Piaget, which emphasized a more gradual acquisition of cognitive abilities through interaction with the environment. One key concept in this approach is object permanence — the understanding that objects continue to exist...
Development of Human Microbiota01:30

Development of Human Microbiota

The human microbiota begins developing at birth and undergoes continual change as we age. Infancy marks a critical period of microbial sensitivity, offering a “window of opportunity” during which beneficial microbes help mature the immune system. By age three, children typically develop a more stable and diverse microbial community. Newborns acquire microbes from their immediate environment; vaginal delivery favors maternal vaginal microbes, while cesarean births favor microbes from the skin...
Development of the Oral Microbiota01:28

Development of the Oral Microbiota

The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...