Effect of Fortified Human Milk on the Growth Parameters of Babies With Very Low Birth Weight

Objective The objective of this study is to assess the effect of fortified human milk on growth parameters of very low birth-weight babies. Study place and duration This randomized controlled trial took place at the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), Children's Hospital, and Institute of Child Health in Multan from the 1st of January 2020 to the 1st of July 2021. Material and methods In group I, 25ml human milk was fortified with a 1g human milk fortifier (HMF) sachet (1g of HMF gives 4kcal added to 25ml of human milk). In group II, newborns were fed preterm formula (493 kcal/100 g where 0.8 g=4 kcal added to 25 ml of human milk) mixed with human milk. Infants were administered human milk + olive oil (0.4 mL = 4Kcal per 25ml human milk) in group III. Everyday weight gain, digestive intolerance (vomiting and/or abdominal distension), sepsis, hospital stay, electrolyte imbalance (derangement of serum sodium, potassium, chloride, and magnesium levels), albumin, and cholesterol/triglyceride levels were assessed. The data was analyzed through descriptive and inferential means using Pearson's chi-square tests and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results Results indicate that preterm formula infants gain higher weight compared to human fortifier infants and olive oil. Similarly, the difference was statistically significant (p=0.001). However, olive oil infants gained a lower head circumference compared to the other two groups, and the difference was statistically significant as well (p=0.000). Moreover, feeding intolerance and electrolyte imbalance were higher in olive oil infants, p=0.020 and p=0.024, respectively. Conclusion It can be concluded that the use of and preterm formula can prove beneficial in increasing the growth rate in terms of weight gain, length gain, and head circumference.