Posthospital discharge feeding for preterm infants: effects of standard compared with enriched milk formula on growth, bone mass, and body composition.
BACKGROUND
Despite the theoretical benefits of nutrient-enriched formula given to preterm infants after hospital discharge, its role in reversing growth deficits after hospital discharge remains poorly defined.


OBJECTIVE
The aim was to determine the effect of different formulas on the growth, bone mass, and body composition of preterm infants after hospital discharge.


METHODS
This was a randomized, double blind comparison of a nutrient-enriched formula (EF) and a formula for term infants (TF) given for 1 y after hospital discharge. Compared with the TF, the EF had a higher energy density and higher contents of protein, calcium, and phosphorus (by 10%, 21%, 44%, and 11%, respectively) and higher contents of almost all other nutrients (by >or=10%).


RESULTS
Birth weights of the infants were 630-1620 g (median: 1250 g) and gestational ages were 24-34 wk (median: 29 wk). TF resulted in significantly greater weight, length, head circumference measurements, and their respective z scores on the basis of age- and sex-specific norms. At the end of the study, the mean z scores for the corrected age of infants in the TF group were -0.37 for weight, 0.001 for length, and 0.50 for head circumference. The TF group also had significantly greater dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry measured bone and lean and fat mass than did the EF group (P < 0.05 for all comparisons).


CONCLUSIONS
The use of EF for preterm infants after hospital discharge shows no advantage over TF in growth, bone mineralization, and body composition. More studies are needed to determine the optimal postdischarge nutrition support for preterm infants.
Koo
Winston W K
WW
Carman and Ann Adams Department of Pediatrics, Wayne State University and Hutzel Hospital, Detroit, MI 48201, USA. wkoo@wayne.edu
Hockman
Elaine M
EM
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology; D001823:Body Composition / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D001827:Body Height / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001846:Bone Development / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000378:metabolism; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005527:Food, Fortified; D005865:Gestational Age; D006257:Head / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D041943:Infant Formula / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D016226:Phosphorus, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage
D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D016226:Phosphorus, Dietary