Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 29, 2025
Author Spotlight: Implications of Non-Nutritive Sucking on Speech Emergence and Infant Development
Published on: April 19, 2024
Complementary feeding in infants born preterm: Aspects needing improvement
Marta Meneghelli1, Silvia Toniazzo2, Elena Priante1
1Neonatal Intensive Care Unit-Paediatric Nutrition Service, Department of Women's and Children's Health University Hospital of Padova Padova Italy.
Insights
Complementary feeding (CF) in preterm infants (PIs) showed heterogeneity and some errors, despite generally aligning with guidelines. Vitamin D intake was linked to bone health in these infants at one year corrected age.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Nutrition
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Infant Bone Health
Background:
- Preterm infants (PIs) have unique nutritional needs post-discharge.
- Complementary feeding (CF) practices in PIs require careful monitoring for optimal growth and development.
- Established guidelines exist for introducing solids, but adherence and outcomes in PIs are less understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess complementary feeding (CF) patterns in preterm infants (PIs) up to 12 months corrected age (CA).
- To evaluate the nutritional intake and bone status of these infants.
- To identify potential correlations between diet and bone health.
Main Methods:
- 167 preterm infants (PIs) born ≤34 weeks gestational age were studied at 12 months CA.
- Complementary feeding (CF) data collected via parental questionnaires and 24-hour dietary recalls.
- Bone status assessed using quantitative ultrasound in a subgroup.
Main Results:
- CF initiated between 5-8 months chronological age in 67.1% of PIs, with fruit most common first food.
- PIs consumed excess energy and protein, but lower lipids and carbohydrates than recommended.
- Vitamin D intake correlated with bone parameters (metacarpus-bone transmission time, r=0.36, p=0.01).
Conclusions:
- PIs' complementary feeding (CF) showed heterogeneity and some deviations from best practices.
- Vitamin D intake is a significant factor influencing bone status in preterm infants at 1 year CA.
- Ongoing monitoring and education on CF for PIs are crucial.
Objective:
The aim of our study was to collect data on complementary feeding (CF) in preterm infants (PIs).
Methods:
We enrolled PI ≤ 34 weeks of gestational age discharged from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of the University Hospital of Padova. At 12 months of corrected age (CA), CF was investigated with questionnaires to the parents and a 24-h dietary recall. In a subgroup of newborns, we also evaluated bone status at a CA of 12 months using quantitative ultrasound.
Results:
We studied 167 ex PI at 1 year of CA. CF was introduced in 67.1% of them between 5 and 8 months of chronological age, with fruit as the first food (81%, n = 136). Sweet drinks were consumed by 17.4% of our sample, and salt was added in 33.5% of cases. PIs, at 1 year CA, introduced extra energy compared to the theoretical requirement (121 ± 31 kcal/kg/day) and higher protein intake than recommended (39 ± 11 g/day), while the intake of both total lipids and carbohydrates was slightly lower. Vitamins and minerals were adequate, except vitamin D. Regarding bone status, we found a correlation between vitamin D intakes from the diet and bone parameters (metacarpus-bone transmission time: r = 0.36, p = 0.01) at 1 year of CA.
Conclusions:
Our population of PIs started CF in agreement with current suggestions though with a notable heterogeneity and with some mistakes. Vitamin D intake was correlated with bone status at 1 year of CA.
More Related Videos
05:04A Common Marmoset Model of Mother-Infant Intervention for Breastfeeding Disorders in the Presence of Paternal Inhibition and Maternal Neglect
Published on: September 22, 2023
07:11Assessment of the Efficacy of An Osteopathic Treatment in Infants with Biomechanical Impairments to Suckling
Published on: February 5, 2019
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...
01:27Parentral 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,...
00:55Parental Care