Growth and nutrition after discharge.
Preterm infants are frequently discharged from hospital growth retarded and show reduced growth during childhood. However, nutrition during the post-discharge period has been neglected. Randomized trials show growth benefits, particularly in boys, when nutrient-enriched diets (preterm formula or post-discharge formula) rather than term formula are fed after discharge, with effects persisting beyond the intervention period. These findings suggest that post-discharge period may be a critical time for influencing the growth trajectory, but further research is required to investigate longer-term effects on growth, health and development. Preterm infants who are breast-fed after discharge show slower weight and length gain and lower bone mass than formula-fed infants. Further studies should establish whether differences persist or have long-term consequences, and clarify whether such infants would benefit from post-discharge nutritional supplementation. The introduction of solids may have a significant effect on growth and nutritional status, but insufficient data are currently available for evidence-based guidelines.
MRC Childhood Nutrition Research Centre, Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK. m.fewtrell@ich.ucl.ac.uk
Mary S
MS
Fewtrell
D002657:Child Development; D005260:Female; D005527:Food, Fortified / Q000592:standards; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D041943:Infant Formula / Q000592:standards; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000254:growth & development*; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age / Q000254:growth & development; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight / Q000254:growth & development; D008297:Male; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013997:Time Factors