title: Feeding with premature or infant formula in premature infants after discharge: comparison of growth and nutrition status.
abstract: We designed this prospective randomized controlled study to evaluate the effects of premature and standard term formula on growth, nutrient intake and biochemical response in premature infants from hospital discharge to 6 months of corrected age. Premature infants with a gestational age of < or =35 weeks and a birth weight < or =1850 gm were assigned to receive premature infant formula (n = 19) or a standard term infant formula (n = 15). No differences were found between the two groups in weight, length, or head circumference at baseline or on follow-up. Infants fed premature formula had higher blood urea nitrogen and phosphorus at 3 months of corrected age. Those on the premature formula also had higher energy intake at 1 month of corrected age. We suggest that premature infants, especially very low birth weight infants, fed preterm infant formula after discharge until 6 months of corrected age tolerate the formula well and may benefit over those standard term formula.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. pengcc@ms2.mmh.org.tw
authors.forename: Chun-Chih
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Chyong-Hsin
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Hsin-An
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Kao
authors.forename: Han-Yang
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Hung
authors.forename: Jui-Hsing
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D041943:Infant Formula / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000145:classification; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome