title: Balancing the risks and benefits of parenteral nutrition for preterm infants: can we define the optimal composition?
abstract: Nutrient intakes in preterm infants are frequently inadequate and are associated with worse neuro-developmental outcome. Preterm infants take time to establish enteral intakes, and parenteral nutrition (PN) is now an integral component of care. Despite this, the evidence base for PN intakes is extremely limited. There remains uncertainty over safe initial and maximum amounts of macronutrients, and the optimal amino acid and lipid composition. Studies have tended to focus on short-term growth measures and there are few studies with long-term follow-up. There may be a tradeoff between improving cognitive outcomes while minimising metabolic harm that means determining the optimal regimen will require long-term follow-up. Given the importance of appropriate nutrition for long-term metabolic and cognitive health, and the associated healthcare costs, optimising the composition of PN deserves to be seen as a research priority in neonatal medicine.
authors.affiliation: Newcastle Neonatal Service, Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle, UK Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK.
authors.forename: Nicholas D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Embleton
authors.affiliation: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Liverpool Women's Hospital, Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: Colin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.affiliation: Neonatal Units, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: King
mesh_terms: D002149:Energy Intake; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D004750:Enteral Nutrition; D005217:Fat Emulsions, Intravenous / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D010288:Parenteral Nutrition; D018570:Risk Assessment
chemical_list: D005217:Fat Emulsions, Intravenous
keywords: Neonatology; Nutrition