Effect of oil massage on growth in preterm neonates less than 1800 g: a randomized control trial.
OBJECTIVE
To study the effect of oil massage on growth in preterm babies less than 1800 g.


METHODS
This randomised controlled trial was conducted in Neonatal intensive care unit of a level II hospital. Neonates with birth weight < 1800 g, gestation < 35 wk and < 48 h of age at enrolment were included in the studies. Eligible neonates were randomized to one of the two groups (a) Oil massage along with standard care of low birth weight (b) Standard care of low birth weight without massage. Weight, length and head circumference was measured in the two groups at 7 d intervals. Serum triglyceride levels were measured at enrolment and at completion of study. Primary outcome variable was weight gain at 28 d after enrolment.


RESULTS
A total of forty-eight neonates were randomisd to either oil massage group (n = 25) or standard care of low birth weight without massage group (n = 23). Mean (SD) weight of babies in the two groups was 1466.4 ± 226.8 g in oil massage group and 1416.6 ± 229.9 g in the control group. At 28 d, weight gain in the oil massage group (476.76 ± 47.9 g) was higher compared to the control group (334.96 ± 46.4 g) (p < 0.05). At 7 d, less weight loss (7.80 ± 9.8 g) was observed in babies in oil massage group compared to control group (21.52 ± 19.4 g) (p = 0.003). However, there was no significant difference in serum triglycerides and other anthropometric parameters.


CONCLUSIONS
Oil application has a potential to improve weight gain and cause less weight loss in first 7 d in low birth weight neonates.
Department of Pediatrics, LLRM Medical College, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh 250004, India.
Jagdish
J
Kumar
Amit
A
Upadhyay
Ajeet Kumar
AK
Dwivedi
Sunil
S
Gothwal
Vijay
V
Jaiswal
Sunny
S
Aggarwal
D001835:Body Weight; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight / Q000254:growth & development*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000254:growth & development*; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D008297:Male; D008405:Massage / Q000379:methods*; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D015430:Weight Gain
D010938:Plant Oils; D014280:Triglycerides