title: Effects of a Breast Milk Diet on Enteral Feeding Outcomes of Neonates with Gastrointestinal Disorders.
abstract: The objective of this study was to assess whether a diet of ≥50% breast milk (BM) was associated with earlier transition off parenteral nutrition (PN) in neonates with gastrointestinal (GI) disorders.
  
  
  
  This retrospective study assessed enteral feeding outcomes of neonates with surgical GI disorders admitted within the first week of life to a single center between January 1, 2012 and August 10, 2015. Outcomes were assessed according to diet from the point of first enteral intake through 7 days of full enteral feeds. Diets were classified as 100%, ≥50%, or <50% BM.
  
  
  
  One hundred sixty-three patients with an average gestational age of 36 weeks (range 28-40) and birthweight of 2570 g (range 1250-4900) were included. Significant differences in days to full enteral feeds between the 100% and <50% BM groups were found (median 21 versus 32 days; p = 0.023). There were no significant differences between the 100% and ≥50% BM (p = 0.05) or ≥50% versus <50% BM groups (p = 0.74). The 100% BM group had significantly fewer days on PN compared to the ≥50% BM group (median 21 versus 28.5 days, p = 0.034). Hospital length of stay was significantly shorter in the 100% BM group, which was discharged an average of 10 and 13.5 days sooner than the ≥50% and <50% BM groups (p < 0.05).
  
  
  
  Neonates with specific GI disorders who received a 100% BM diet were found to achieve earlier full enteral feeds, have shorter PN courses, and be discharged from the hospital significantly sooner than those who received diets that included formula.
authors.affiliation: 1 Division of Pediatric Surgery, Departments of Surgery and Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine , Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: Julia K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Shinnick
authors.affiliation: 2 Emory + Children's Pediatric Research Center , Children's Healthcare of Atlanta , Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: 3 Outcomes Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: Cheryl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hulbert
authors.affiliation: 2 Emory + Children's Pediatric Research Center , Children's Healthcare of Atlanta , Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: Courtney
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McCracken
authors.affiliation: 4 Department of Clinical Nutrition, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta , Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: Gail Yvonne
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Sarson
authors.affiliation: 5 Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine , Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Piazza
authors.affiliation: 5 Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine , Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Karpen
authors.affiliation: 1 Division of Pediatric Surgery, Departments of Surgery and Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine , Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: Megan M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Durham