title: Effect of hospital nutrition support on growth velocity and nutritional status of low birth weight infants.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Infants with low birth weights are provided with hospital nutrition support to enhance their survivability and body weights. However, different hospitals have different nutrition support formulas. Therefore, the effectiveness of these nutrition support formulas should be investigated.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effect of hospital nutrition support on growth velocity and nutritional status of low birth weight infants at Al-Noor hospital, Saudi Arabia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted between October, 2010 and December, 2012. Three hundred newborns were recruited from Al-Noor Hospital in Makkah city, Saudi Arabia. Infants were selected according to their birth weights and were divided equally into three groups; (i) Low Birth Weight (LBW) infants (1501- 2500 g birth weight), (ii) Very Low Birth Weight (VLBW) infants (1001-1500 g birth weight) and (iii) Extremely Low Birth Weight (ELBW) infants (< 1000 g birth weight). Data were collected at birth and at discharged. Infants' weights were recorded and growth velocity was calculated. Some biochemical tests and mineral levels were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Body mass index values of VLBW and ELBW groups were lower (p < 0.05) than LBW group. The growth velocity of infants in all groups ranged between 8.7 to 10.2 g/kg/d with no differences (p > 0.05) were observed among groups. Serum calcium, phosphorus and potassium levels at discharge were higher (p < 0.05) than that at birth for ELBW and VLBW groups; while sodium level decreased in ELBW group to be within normal ranges. Albumin level was improved (p < 0.05) in ELBW group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Health care management for low birth weight infants in Al-Noor Hospital was not sufficient to achieve normal growth rate for low birth weight infants, while biochemical indicators were remarkably improved in all groups.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Nutrition, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.. fsazzeh@uqu.edu.sa.
authors.forename: Firas S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Azzeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Nutrition, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Ha'il, Ha'il, Saudi Arabia.. fsazzeh@uqu.edu.sa.
authors.forename: Awfa Y
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Alazzeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Nutrition, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.. fsazzeh@uqu.edu.sa.
authors.forename: Ibrahim R
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Dabbour
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Nutrition, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.. fsazzeh@uqu.edu.sa.
authors.forename: Abdelelah S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Jazar
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Nutrition, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Taibah University, Yanbu, Saudi Arabia.. fsazzeh@uqu.edu.sa.
authors.forename: Ahmed A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Obeidat
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight / Q000254:growth & development*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D018529:Nutritional Support; D013997:Time Factors