Relationship between early nutrition and deep gray matter and lateral ventricular volumes of preterm infants at term-equivalent age
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Published on: September 6, 2017
Felicia Toppe1, Tobias Rasche1, Christel Weiss2
1Department of Pediatrics I, Neonatology, Pediatric Intensive Care, and Pediatric Neurology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, 45147, Essen, Germany.
Insights
Adequate nutrition is crucial for preterm infant brain development. Specific nutrient intakes in early weeks, like protein and fat, correlate with deep gray matter volume, while carbohydrates influence ventricular size.
Area of Science:
- Neonatalogy
- Neuroscience
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Preterm infant survival has improved, but impaired brain development remains a significant concern.
- Neurological outcomes in preterm infants are often linked to prematurity complications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of nutrition on neurodevelopment in preterm infants.
- To identify nutritional markers associated with improved neurological outcomes.
Main Methods:
- 67 preterm infants (24-34 weeks gestation) were analyzed.
- Nutritional intake (protein, fat, carbohydrates) and clinical data were collected.
- Brain development was assessed using MRI to measure deep gray matter (DGM) and lateral ventricular (LV) volumes at term-equivalent age (TEA).
Main Results:
- Negative correlation found between protein intake (3rd postnatal week) and DGM volume.
- Positive correlation between head circumference (35 weeks gestation) and fat intake (4th postnatal week) with DGM volume.
- Carbohydrate intake (1st postnatal week) and intraventricular hemorrhage predicted LV volume.
Conclusions:
- Nutrition plays a critical role in the brain development of preterm infants.
- Specific nutritional strategies may be key to improving neurodevelopmental outcomes.
Background:
The survival of preterm infants has improved over the last decade, but impaired brain development leading to poor neurological outcomes is still a major comorbidity associated with prematurity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of nutrition on neurodevelopment in preterm infants and identify markers for improved outcomes.
Methods:
Totally 67 premature infants with a gestational age of 24-34 weeks and a birth weight of 450-2085 g were included. Clinical parameters and documented diet were collected from medical records. The nutritional analysis comprised the protein, fat, carbohydrate, and energy intake during different time spans. Brain development was assessed by determining deep gray matter (DGM; basal ganglia and thalamus) and lateral ventricular (LV) volumes as measured on cerebral magnetic resonance imaging scans obtained at term-equivalent age (TEA), and potential associations between nutrition and brain volumetrics were detected by regression analysis.
Results:
We observed a negative correlation between mean daily protein intake in the third postnatal week and MRI-measured DGM volume at TEA (P = 0.007). In contrast, head circumference at a corrected age of 35 weeks gestation (P < 0.001) and mean daily fat intake in the fourth postnatal week (P = 0.004) were positively correlated with DGM volume. Moreover, mean daily carbohydrate intake in the first postnatal week (P = 0.010) and intraventricular hemorrhage (P = 0.003) were revealed as independent predictors of LV volume.
Conclusion:
The study emphasizes the importance of nutrition for brain development following preterm birth.
