title: Does Human Milk Modulate Body Composition in Late Preterm Infants at Term-Corrected Age?
abstract: (1) Background: Late preterm infants account for the majority of preterm births and are at risk of altered body composition. Because body composition modulates later health outcomes and human milk is recommended as the normal method for infant feeding, we sought to investigate whether human milk feeding in early life can modulate body composition development in late preterm infants; (2) Methods: Neonatal, anthropometric and feeding data of 284 late preterm infants were collected. Body composition was evaluated at term-corrected age by air displacement plethysmography. The effect of human milk feeding on fat-free mass and fat mass content was evaluated using multiple linear regression analysis; (3) Results: Human milk was fed to 68% of the infants. According to multiple regression analysis, being fed any human milk at discharge and at  term-corrected and being fed exclusively human milk at term-corrected age were positively associated with fat-free mass content(β = -47.9, 95% confidence interval (CI) = -95.7; -0.18;p =0.049; β = -89.6, 95% CI = -131.5; -47.7;p< 0.0001; β = -104.1, 95% CI = -151.4; -56.7,p< 0.0001); (4) Conclusion: Human milk feeding appears to be associated with fat-free mass deposition in late preterm infants. Healthcare professionals should direct efforts toward promoting and supporting breastfeeding in these vulnerable infants.
authors: Fondazione I.R.C.C.S. Ca Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Department of Clinical Science and Community Health, University of Milan, Via Commenda 12, 20122 Milano, Italy. maria.gianni@unimi.it.
authors: Maria Lorella
authors: ML
authors: Giannì
authors: Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Epidemiology Unit, Via San Barnaba 8, 20122 Milan, Italy. dario.consonni@unimi.it.
authors: Dario
authors: D
authors: Consonni
authors: Fondazione I.R.C.C.S. Ca Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Department of Clinical Science and Community Health, University of Milan, Via Commenda 12, 20122 Milano, Italy. nadia.liotto@unimi.it.
authors: Nadia
authors: N
authors: Liotto
authors: Fondazione I.R.C.C.S. Ca Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Department of Clinical Science and Community Health, University of Milan, Via Commenda 12, 20122 Milano, Italy. paola.roggero@unimi.it.
authors: Paola
authors: P
authors: Roggero
authors: Fondazione I.R.C.C.S. Ca Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Department of Clinical Science and Community Health, University of Milan, Via Commenda 12, 20122 Milano, Italy. lally.morly@hotmail.it.
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Morlacchi
authors: Fondazione I.R.C.C.S. Ca Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Department of Clinical Science and Community Health, University of Milan, Via Commenda 12, 20122 Milano, Italy. pasquina.piemontese@mangiagalli.it.
authors: Pasqua
authors: P
authors: Piemontese
authors: Fondazione I.R.C.C.S. Ca Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Department of Clinical Science and Community Health, University of Milan, Via Commenda 12, 20122 Milano, Italy. camilla.menis@studenti.unimi.it.
authors: Camilla
authors: C
authors: Menis
authors: Fondazione I.R.C.C.S. Ca Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Department of Clinical Science and Community Health, University of Milan, Via Commenda 12, 20122 Milano, Italy. fabio.mosca@unimi.it.
authors: Fabio
authors: F
authors: Mosca
mesh_terms: D000886:Anthropometry; D001823:Body Composition; D001942:Breast Feeding; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000254:growth & development*; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008895:Milk, Human
keywords: body composition; human milk; late preterm infants