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Haemoglobin concentration depends on protein intake in small preterm infants fed human milk
Insights
Supplementing premature infants with human milk protein improved hemoglobin levels and accelerated red blood cell production. This suggests current human milk protein levels may be insufficient for very low birthweight infants.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal nutrition
- Pediatric hematology
Background:
- Early anemia of prematurity is a common complication in very low birthweight infants.
- Standard iron and vitamin supplementation have shown limited success in preventing this condition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of human milk protein supplementation on hemoglobin concentration and red blood cell production in preterm infants.
- To determine if human milk protein content is adequate for the needs of very low birthweight infants.
Main Methods:
- A study involving 35 infants with birthweight under 1520 g and mean gestational age of 30.4 weeks.
- Infants were fed either human milk alone or human milk supplemented with human milk protein.
- Vitamin and iron status were monitored, along with hemoglobin concentration and reticulocyte counts.
Main Results:
- Protein-supplemented infants showed significantly higher hemoglobin concentrations between 4 to 10 weeks of age.
- Earlier reticulocytosis was observed in the protein-supplemented group.
- These findings persisted in infants who did not receive blood transfusions.
Conclusions:
- Human milk protein supplementation can enhance hemoglobin levels in very low birthweight infants during early life.
- The protein content of human milk may be insufficient to meet the nutritional demands of these vulnerable infants.
- Protein supplementation represents a potential strategy to improve hematological outcomes in preterm neonates.
Abstract:
Studies have shown that early anaemia of prematurity cannot be prevented by iron or vitamin supplementation. We studied 35 infants of birthweight less than 1520 g and mean gestational age 30.4 weeks who were fed either human milk alone or human milk supplemented with human milk protein. The vitamin and iron status were the same in both groups but the concentration of haemoglobin was significantly higher at the ages 4 to 10 weeks in the protein supplemented infants. Reticulocytosis occurred earlier in the protein supplemented infants. The findings on haemoglobin and reticulocytes were similar in 18 infants who received no blood transfusions. We conclude that human milk protein supplementation can increase the haemoglobin concentration of very low birthweight infants in the early weeks of life and that the protein content in human milk may be insufficient to satisfy their needs.