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Nucleotide supplementation and the growth of term small for gestational age infants
M Cosgrove1, D P Davies, H R Jenkins
1Department of Child Health, University of Wales College of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff.
Insights
Nucleotide supplementation in infant formula significantly improved catchup growth in small for gestational age (SGA) infants. This nutritional intervention enhanced weight, length, and head circumference gains over six months.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Neonatology
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Small for gestational age (SGA) infants often exhibit impaired intestinal mucosa due to intrauterine undernutrition.
- This impairment can hinder optimal growth and development postnatally.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if nucleotide supplementation in infant formula enhances catchup growth in SGA infants.
- To test the hypothesis that nucleotides support intestinal function and improve growth outcomes.
Main Methods:
- A double-blind, randomized controlled trial was conducted.
- 74 SGA infants were allocated to receive either standard formula (group S) or nucleotide-supplemented formula (group N).
- Anthropometric data (weight, length, head circumference) were collected over six months.
Main Results:
- Infants in the nucleotide-supplemented group (group N) showed significantly higher rates of weight and length gain from study entry to 2 months.
- Over the full six months, group N demonstrated significantly greater gains in weight, length, and head circumference compared to group S.
- Specific mean rates of gain were significantly higher for weight, length, and head circumference in the nucleotide group.
Conclusions:
- Nucleotide supplementation of infant formula effectively improves catchup growth in small for gestational age infants.
- The findings suggest that nucleotides play a crucial role in supporting the growth of vulnerable SGA infants.
- This nutritional strategy offers a potential benefit for SGA infants experiencing intrauterine growth restriction.
Abstract:
A double blind randomised controlled trial in small for gestational age (SGA) infants, whose intestinal mucosa was shown to be functionally impaired as a result of intrauterine undernutrition, was carried out to investigate the hypothesis that nucleotide supplementation of a milk formula could improve catchup growth. Anthropometric data were collected on 74 infants, 39 randomly allocated to the nucleotide supplemented group (group N) and 35 to a standard formula group (group S). From study entry to 2 months of age, infants in group N had significantly higher mean rates of weight gain (106.3 compared with 94.7 g/kg baseline weight/week) and length gain (21.8 v 19.7 mm/m baseline length/week). Over the whole six months for which the trial formula was provided group N had significantly higher mean rates of gain of weight (80.1 compared with 71.8 g/kg baseline weight/week), length (16.2 compared with 15.0 mm/m baseline length/week), and head circumference (11.8 compared with 10.8 mm/m baseline head circumference/week). Catchup growth in SGA infants is therefore improved by nucleotide supplementation of infant formula.