title: Randomized trial of enteral protein and energy supplementation in infants less than or equal to 1250 g at birth.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine if enteral protein and energy supplementation would significantly improve weight gain as compared with energy supplementation alone in <or=1250 g infants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Inclusion criteria were birth weight (BW) <or=1250 g, postnatal age >or=14 days, diet of >or=75% enteral nutrition (fortified human milk or formula) and either failure to regain BW or weight gain<15 g kg(-1) per days. Infants were randomized to a multinutrient supplement that provided increased protein and energy (P/E) intake or energy alone (medium chain triglyceride oil, MCT). Growth rates were compared at the end of the 4-week study period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 30 eligible infants, 23 were enrolled, 12 received MCT (BW=862+/-252 g, mean+/-s.d.) and 11 received P/E (BW=879+/-241 g). Significantly higher protein intake (P/E=3.5+/-0.3 g kg(-1) per day, MCT=3.0+/-0.5 g kg(-1) per day) and better growth (P/E=17.0+/-2.4 g kg(-1) per day, MCT=11.5+/-4.8 g kg(-1) per day) were observed in the P/E group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data are consistent with the importance of providing additional daily protein intake to achieve increased postnatal growth in very low birth weight infants experiencing slow growth.
authors.affiliation: Division of Newborn Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, New York Medical College, Maria Fareri Children's Hospital, Westchester Medical Center, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA. heather_brumberg@nymc.edu
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Brumberg
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kowalski
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Troxell-Dorgan
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gettner
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Konstantino
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Poulsen
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Ehrenkranz
mesh_terms: D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004750:Enteral Nutrition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D041943:Infant Formula; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D008297:Male; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015430:Weight Gain
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D014280:Triglycerides