title: Optimizing early nutritional support based on recent recommendations in VLBW infants and postnatal growth restriction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate postnatal growth up to discharge in very low birth weight infants after optimizing nutritional support based on recent nutritional recommendations.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective, nonrandomized, consecutive, and observational study in infants weighing <1250 g.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred two infants were included during a 2-year period (birth weight 1005 ± 157 g, gestational age 28.5 ± 1.9 weeks). First-day nutritional intake was 38 ± 6 kcal/kg/day with 2.4 ± 0.3 g/kg/day of protein. Mean intake during the first week of life was 80 ± 14 kcal/kg/day with 3.2 ± 0.5 g/kg/day of protein. On average from birth to discharge, 122 ± 10 kcal/kg/day and 3.7 ± 0.2 g/kg/day of protein were administered. Postnatal weight loss was limited to the first 3 days of life, and birth weight was regained after 7 days in average. Catch-up occurred after the second week in all groups of very low birth weight infants. Small-for-gestational age infants demonstrated an earlier and higher weight gain, allowing a rapid catch-up growth. The same proportion of infants was small-for-gestational age at birth and at discharge (20%, P = 0.74).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study confirmed that the first week of life is a critical period to promote growth and that early nutrition from the first day of life is essential. Postnatal weight loss may be limited and subsequent growth may be optimized with a dramatic reduction of postnatal growth restriction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, University of Liege, CHU de Liège, CHR de la Citadelle, Liège, Belgium. Thibault.Senterre@chu.ulg.ac.be
authors.forename: Thibault
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Senterre
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rigo
mesh_terms: D001724:Birth Weight; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight / Q000254:growth & development*; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D018529:Nutritional Support; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015430:Weight Gain; D015431:Weight Loss