title: Human milk feeding protects very low-birth-weight infants from retinopathy of prematurity: a pre-post cohort analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the effect of early human milk (HM) feeding on the incidence of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) among very low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Observational cohort research in a Level III neonatal intensive care unit. A total of 186 infants were enrolled in this pre-post cohort study (114 infants were included in the HM-fed group and 72 in the formula-fed group). ROP, type of feeding (early exclusive HM versus any formula), and potential confounding variables were measured. Differences between groups were explored.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The clinical characteristics of the neonates did not differ between the two groups. By bivariate analysis, HM feeding was associated with 75% lower odds of Stage 2 or 3 ROP (OR = 0.25, 95% CI: 0.091 to 0.705; p = 0.009) At multivariate logistic regression, type of milk feeding retained significance, exclusive HM being protective with p = 0.002.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study found an association between early exposure to formula in VLBW infants and ROP. An initial HM diet, devoid of cow milk-containing products before achieving full enteral feeding, may help prevent ROP.
authors.affiliation: a Neonatal Unit, Department of Paediatrics , Hospital De La Santa Creu I Sant Pau, Barcelona Free University (UAB) , Barcelona , Spain .
authors.forename: Gemma
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ginovart
authors.affiliation: b Department of Clinical Epidemiology , Hospital De La Santa Creu I Sant Pau , Barcelona , Spain , and.
authors.forename: Ignasi
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gich
authors.affiliation: c Health Sciences Research Institute (IUNICS), Balearic University , Palma De Mallorca , Spain.
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Verd
mesh_terms: D015331:Cohort Studies; D004750:Enteral Nutrition / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D041943:Infant Formula / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008895:Milk, Human; D012178:Retinopathy of Prematurity / Q000517:prevention & control*
keywords: Breastfeeding; milk bank; newborn infant; retinopathy of prematurity