[Nutritional requirements of the low birth-weight newborn infant]

The preterm newborn infant for his very high growth rate is especially vulnerable to any deficiency or excess of the nutritional intake. Moreover he differs from the older infant because of the immaturity of many biological function. Such immaturity is temporary in the term newborn, while lasts longer in the preterm newborn infant. In this paper needs for energy, proteins, lipids, carbohydrates and minerals in the preterm newborn are reported. They are based on metabolic balance studies carried out in preterm newborn infants fed either human milk or different formulas. The own mother fresh milk, supplemented with phosphorus, appears to be the best feeding for the preterm infant. Formulas conveniently adapted in carbohydrates, proteins, lipids and minerals content may be used as reasonable substitutes. On the contrary the pooled pasteurized human milk is not advisable.