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Postnatal inositol levels in preterm infants
J D Carver1, C I Stromquist, V J Benford
1Department of Pediatrics, University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa 33606, USA.
Insights
Formula with inositol levels similar to human milk did not prevent a drop in preterm infant plasma inositol. This suggests that current preterm infant formulas may not fully support optimal inositol levels.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal nutrition
- Biochemistry
- Pediatric research
Background:
- Inositol is crucial for infant development.
- Preterm infants often have altered nutrient metabolism.
- Human milk provides a benchmark for infant nutrition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess plasma inositol levels in preterm infants receiving formula fortified with inositol.
- To compare these levels to those in term infants and track changes over time in preterm infants.
Main Methods:
- Plasma inositol was measured in 72 preterm infants fed a specific formula and 12 term infants.
- Measurements were taken at multiple time points: early life, during feeding, at discharge, and post-discharge.
- Gestational age and parenteral nutrition duration were considered.
Main Results:
- Term infant cord blood had lower inositol than preterm infants at most time points.
- Preterm infants initially had higher levels, which decreased over time.
- Parenteral nutrition duration correlated with lower inositol levels at discharge.
Conclusions:
- Fortifying preterm formula with inositol to levels found in human milk may not prevent postnatal declines in plasma inositol.
- Further research is needed to optimize inositol levels in preterm infant nutrition.
Objective:
To measure plasma inositol levels in preterm infants fed formula containing inositol at levels close to those in human milk.
Study Design:
Plasma inositol levels were measured in 72 preterm infants fed formula containing 1110 mumol/L inositol and in cord blood of 12 healthy term infants. Preterm infant plasma levels were measured four times: (1) within the first 7 days of life, (2) intermediate enteral feeding, (3) at hospital discharge, and (4) 2 months after hospital discharge.
Results:
Inositol concentrations in term cord blood samples were significantly lower than in preterm initial feeding, intermediate feeding, and discharge samples. Initial concentrations in blood of preterm infants were higher than in all other groups, and were significantly lower among infants with gestational ages of 31 to 33 weeks compared with those of 28 to 30 or 31 to 33 weeks. Days of parenteral nutrition were a significant predictor of inositol levels in the full feeding sample, with lower levels associated with prolonged parenteral nutrition. Clinical outcomes were not related to plasma inositol levels.
Conclusions:
Feeding preterm formula with inositol levels close to those reported for human milk may not prevent the postnatal decline in preterm infant plasma inositol levels.
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