Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 23, 2025

Determining Gender-Based Differences in Retinal and Choroidal Thickness in Underweight Individuals via Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography
03:35

Determining Gender-Based Differences in Retinal and Choroidal Thickness in Underweight Individuals via Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography

Published on: December 1, 2023

241

Sex-Related Nutritional Outcomes Among Preterm Very Low Birth-Weight Infants

Leslie A Parker1, Michael Weaver, Diomel de la Cruz

  • 1Author Affiliations: Department of Biobehavioral Nursing Science, College of Nursing (Drs Parker and Weaver); and Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville Florida (Drs de la Cruz and Neu).

Advances in Neonatal Care : Official Journal of the National Association of Neonatal Nurses
|March 7, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Male preterm infants experienced longer nutritional support durations and higher rates of complications like sepsis. These findings highlight the need for sex-specific nutritional strategies in neonatal intensive care units for very low birth-weight infants.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal nutrition
  • Pediatric growth and development
  • Sex-based biological differences

Background:

  • Optimal nutrition is critical for growth and reducing neurodevelopmental impairment in preterm very low birth-weight (VLBW) infants.
  • Existing knowledge on sex-specific nutritional outcomes in VLBW infants is limited.
  • Understanding these differences is crucial for tailored infant care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of infant sex on the time to achieve full enteral feedings.
  • To analyze other sex-specific nutritional outcomes in VLBW infants.
  • To inform precision-based nutritional support in neonatal intensive care.

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal cohort study with secondary analysis of existing data.
  • Inclusion criteria: 313 infants born ≤32 weeks gestation and weighing ≤1500 g.
  • Nutritional outcomes data extracted from electronic medical records.

Main Results:

  • Male infants trended towards longer durations for full enteral feeds, parenteral nutrition, and central line use, though not statistically significant.
  • Males exhibited significantly higher direct bilirubin levels, emesis, and late-onset sepsis.
  • While males had higher initial birth weight and weight gain slope, 6-week weight and growth velocity were similar, tending higher in females.

Conclusions:

  • Nurses play a vital role in optimizing nutrition for preterm infants.
  • Evidence suggests sex-specific differences in nutritional outcomes for VLBW infants.
  • Precision-based nutritional support considering sex is recommended for neonatal care.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Scanning Skeletal Remains for Bone Mineral Density in Forensic Contexts07:56

Scanning Skeletal Remains for Bone Mineral Density in Forensic Contexts

Published on: January 29, 2018

17.5K
Author Spotlight: Studying the Impact of Maternal Dietary Deficiencies on Long-Term Offspring Health Outcomes03:19

Author Spotlight: Studying the Impact of Maternal Dietary Deficiencies on Long-Term Offspring Health Outcomes

Published on: June 28, 2024

343

Related Concept Videos

Nature and Nurture01:10

Nature and Nurture

Many human characteristics, like height, are shaped by both nature—in other words, by our genes—and by nurture, or our environment. For example, chronic stress during childhood inhibits the production of growth hormones and consequently reduces bone growth and height. Scientists estimate that 70-90% of variation in height is due to genetic differences among individuals, and 10-30% of variation in height is due to differences in the environments that individuals experience,...
20.3K
Anorexia Nervosa01:28

Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is a complex and severe eating disorder characterized by an intense fear of weight gain, an unrelenting pursuit of thinness, and a distorted body image. It often leads to dangerously low body weight relative to an individual's age and height. This disorder is marked by significant physical and psychological consequences, making it one of the most life-threatening psychiatric illnesses.
Symptoms and Physical Effects
Individuals with anorexia nervosa commonly exhibit extreme...
41
Signs of Puberty01:27

Signs of Puberty

Puberty is a critical phase, typically beginning between the ages of 8 and 13 in girls and 9 and 14 in boys, though timing can vary based on genetics, environmental factors, and overall health. This period is characterized by the development of secondary sexual characteristics and the attainment of reproductive potential. Endocrine changes underpin puberty, with hormonal surges of Luteinizing Hormone (LH) and Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) instigated by Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH)...
200
Natural Selection and Mating Preferences01:06

Natural Selection and Mating Preferences

The principle of natural selection posits that organisms better adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce. This principle is closely intertwined with mating preferences, a key aspect of sexual selection, which evolutionary psychologists believe is driven by instincts to propagate one's genes. Such instincts significantly influence mating behaviors and preferences between genders.
Females, due to their biological roles in conception, pregnancy, and nursing,...
87
Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Diagnostic Studies and Management I-Nutritional Therapy01:30

Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Diagnostic Studies and Management I-Nutritional Therapy

Various diagnostic tests are employed in the diagnostic process for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), particularly to differentiate between Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
Diagnostic studies
A colonoscopy is the definitive screening test, distinguishing ulcerative colitis from other colon diseases with similar symptoms. During a colonoscopy test, inflamed mucosa with exudate ulcerations can be observed, and biopsies are taken to determine the histologic characteristics of the...
291
Overview of Protein Metabolism01:21

Overview of Protein Metabolism

Proteins are broken down into amino acids during digestion. Unlike fats and carbohydrates, which are stored for later use, proteins are not. Instead, amino acids are either used to produce ATP through oxidation or contribute to the creation of new proteins for the growth and repair of the body. Any surplus amino acids from the diet are converted into glucose or triglycerides rather than excreted.
Amino acids play various roles in the body once they are absorbed into cells. They are restructured...
656