Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 6, 2025
Author Spotlight: Implications of Non-Nutritive Sucking on Speech Emergence and Infant Development
Published on: April 19, 2024
Epigenetics Embedding of Oral Feeding Skill Development in Preterm Infants: A Study Protocol
Thao Griffith1, Rosemary White-Traut, Dina Tell
1Author Affiliations: Department of Family and Community Health Nursing, Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, Illinois (Drs Griffith, Tell, and Janusek); Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice, Children's Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Dr White-Traut); Women, Children and Family Health Science, College of Nursing, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois (Dr White-Traut); and Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Rush University, Chicago, Illinois (Dr Green).
Early life stress in preterm infants may impair oral feeding skills, potentially through DNA methylation of stress-related genes. This study investigates this link to improve infant nutrition and health outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal research
- Developmental neuroscience
- Epigenetics
Background:
- Preterm infants often struggle with oral feeding, impacting growth and development.
- Neurobehavioral development is crucial for oral feeding skills.
- Early life stress can alter DNA methylation of stress-related genes (NR3C1, HSD11B2), potentially affecting neurobehavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of early life stress, indicated by NR3C1 and HSD11B2 promoter DNA methylation, on oral feeding skill development in preterm infants.
- To elucidate the biomechanisms linking early life stress to impaired oral feeding.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal prospective cohort study design.
- Enrollment of preterm infants (26-34 weeks gestational age).
- Assessment of early life stress, DNA methylation, cortisol reactivity, neurobehaviors, and oral feeding skills during hospitalization and post-discharge.
Main Results:
- 70 infants enrolled; data collection completed.
- Study is currently in the data analysis phase.
- Findings are expected to be disseminated in 2025.
Conclusions:
- Study findings will inform interventions to support oral feeding and nutrition in preterm infants.
- Results may reduce post-discharge feeding difficulties and long-term health risks.
- This research supports strategies to mitigate stress in vulnerable preterm populations.
