title: Enhanced feeding and diminished postnatal growth failure in very-low-birth-weight infants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to determine whether an increased supply of energy, protein, essential fatty acids, and vitamin A reduces postnatal growth failure in very-low-birth-weight infants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty infants with birth weight <1500 g were randomized to an intervention (n = 24) or a control (n = 26) feeding protocol within 24 hours after birth. Forty-four infants were included in the final analysis. This study was discontinued because of an increased occurrence of septicemia in the intervention group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The intervention group had a lower mean birth weight (P = 0.03) and a higher proportion of infants small-for-gestational age (P = 0.04) than the control group. Other baseline characteristics were similar. The median (interquartile range) energy and protein supplies during the first 4 weeks of life were higher in the intervention group: 139 (128-145) versus 126 (121-128) kcal · kg · day (P < 0.001) and 4.0 (3.9-4.2) versus 3.2 (3.1-3.3) g · kg · day (P < 0.001). The infants in the intervention group regained birth weight faster (P = 0.001) and maintained their z scores for weight and head circumference from birth to 36 weeks' postmenstrual age (both P < 0.001). The median (interquartile range) growth velocity was 17.4 (16.3-18.6) g · kg · day in the intervention group and 13.8 (13.2-15.5) g · kg · day in the control group (P < 0.001). In line with the improved growth in the intervention group, the proportion of growth-restricted infants was 11 of 23 both at birth and at 36 weeks' postmenstrual age, whereas this proportion increased among the controls from 4 of 21 to 13 of 21 (P = 0.04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Enhanced supply of energy, protein, essential fatty acids, and vitamin A caused postnatal growth along the birth percentiles for both weight and head circumference.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Nutrition, University of Oslo †Oslo University Hospital HF, Rikshospitalet ‡Akershus University Hospital and Faculty Division AHUS, Institute for Clinical Medicine §Oslo University Hospital HF, Ullevål ||Department of Biostatistics, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo ¶Atlantis Medical University College, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Sissel J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Moltu
authors.forename: Elin W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Blakstad
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Strømmen
authors.forename: Astrid N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Almaas
authors.forename: Britt
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nakstad
authors.forename: Arild
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rønnestad
authors.forename: Kristin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Brække
authors.forename: Marit B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Veierød
authors.forename: Christian A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Drevon
authors.forename: Per O
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Iversen
authors.forename: Ane C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Westerberg
mesh_terms: D001724:Birth Weight; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002149:Energy Intake; D005228:Fatty Acids, Essential / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006128:Growth; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000254:growth & development*; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight / Q000254:growth & development*; D008297:Male; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014815:Vitamins / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D004044:Dietary Proteins; D005228:Fatty Acids, Essential; D014815:Vitamins; D014801:Vitamin A