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Early diet of preterm infants and bone mineralization at age five years
N J Bishop1, S L Dahlenburg, M S Fewtrell
1University Department of Paediatrics, Cambridge, UK.
Insights
Preterm infants fed more human milk showed better bone mineralization later in childhood. Early nutrition significantly impacts skeletal growth and development in premature babies.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Nutritional Science
- Bone Biology
Background:
- Preterm infants often experience poor bone mineralization, leading to stunted growth.
- Dietary calcium and phosphorus deficiency is a suspected cause of this bone disease.
- Early nutrition is critical for the long-term skeletal health of premature infants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between early diet and later bone mineral content in preterm infants.
- To compare the effects of donor breast milk versus preterm formula on skeletal development.
- To determine the role of human milk intake in long-term bone health.
Main Methods:
- A prospective multicentre study followed 54 children born preterm.
- Children's early diets (donor breast milk vs. preterm formula) were analyzed.
- Bone mineral content was assessed at a mean age of 5 years.
Main Results:
- Higher intake of human milk was strongly linked to increased bone mineral content later in childhood.
- Preterm infants predominantly fed human milk had greater bone mineral content than term-born infants of similar size.
- Early nutritional environment significantly influences skeletal growth.
Conclusions:
- Early nutrition, particularly human milk intake, plays a crucial role in the skeletal development of preterm infants.
- Optimizing the early diet may improve long-term bone health and prevent growth stunting.
- Further research into optimal preterm infant nutrition for bone health is warranted.
Abstract:
Bone disease with significantly reduced bone mineralization is common in preterm infants, and associated with later linear growth stunting at 18 months of age. Dietary insufficiency of calcium and phosphorus is thought to be the principal aetiological factor. We studied 54 children at mean age 5 years who were born preterm and had participated in a prospective multicentre study of effects of early diet on later growth and development. Diets compared were banked donor breast milk and preterm formula fed as a supplement to mother's own milk. Increasing human milk intake was strongly positively associated with later bone mineral content. Children fed predominantly human milk had greater bone mineral content than children of similar size born at term. These data suggest that the early nutritional environment of the preterm infant could play an important role in determining later skeletal growth and mineralization.