Effect of Smell and Taste of Milk on Feeding Parameters in Preterm Neonates: An Updated Meta-Analysis
Sarah Alenezi1, Manal Aldaihani1, Sabah Alqabandi1
1Department of Medicine and Surgery, Kuwait Institute for Medical Specializations, Kuwait City, KWT.
Insights
Smell and taste interventions significantly shorten the time for premature infants to achieve oral feeding. This study found these sensory interventions beneficial for preterm infants, reducing feeding duration without impacting other clinical measures.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Sensory Science
Background:
- Smell and taste stimulation is associated with positive feeding outcomes in premature infants.
- The specific impact of sensory interventions on the transition to oral feeding in preterm infants requires further clarification.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of smell and taste interventions in improving clinical outcomes for preterm infants.
- To determine the effect of sensory interventions on the time to achieve oral feeding in neonates.
Main Methods:
- A systematic review and meta-analysis of 12 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 1,638 preterm infants (gestational age < 34 weeks).
- Searches were conducted across major databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane).
- Study quality was assessed using Cochrane's Risk of Bias tool (version 2); outcomes were analyzed using random-effects models.
Main Results:
- Smell and taste interventions significantly reduced the time to achieve oral feeds by 1.37 days (95% CI [-2.26, -0.48], p < 0.001).
- No significant differences were observed for secondary outcomes, including time to full enteral feeds, hospital stay duration, or infection rates.
- Results remained consistent across subgroup analyses based on birth weight, exposure type, and sample size.
Conclusions:
- Smell and taste interventions are effective in accelerating the transition to oral feeding in preterm infants.
- While beneficial for feeding time, these interventions did not significantly alter other clinical outcomes compared to standard care.
- Further large-scale RCTs and long-term follow-up studies are recommended to fully elucidate the benefits.
Abstract:
Smell and taste sensations have been linked to positive outcomes in the feeding of premature infants, though the impact on the time required to transition to oral feeding remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the beneficial effects of smell and taste interventions on clinical outcomes in preterm infants. We conducted a search in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from inception through September 2024 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examining the effects of smell and taste on clinical outcomes in preterm infants with a gestational age of less than 34 weeks. The quality of the included studies was evaluated using the updated Cochrane's Risk of Bias tool (version 2). The primary outcome was the time required to achieve oral feeds. Secondary outcomes included the time to reach full enteral feeds, length of hospital stay, postmenstrual age, the need for parenteral nutrition, and the incidence of nosocomial infections. The outcomes were summarized as mean difference (MD) or odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) using a random-effects model. A total of 12 RCTs involving 1,638 preterm infants were included in the analysis. The results showed that smell and taste interventions significantly reduced the time needed to reach oral feeds (MD = -1.37 days, 95% CI [-2.26, -0.48], p < 0.001; I² = 42.15%) compared to no intervention. These findings were consistent across subgroup analyses based on birth weight at admission, type of exposure, and sample size. However, no significant differences were found for the other secondary outcomes. In conclusion, smell and taste interventions significantly reduced the time to reach oral feeds, with similar outcomes for other clinical measures compared to no intervention. These findings suggest that smell and taste interventions could be used in the care of preterm infants, with the need for large-volume RCTs and long-term assessments being warranted.
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