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ARS Home » Plains Area » Houston, Texas » Children's Nutrition Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #65612
Title: BODY OUTCOMES: BONE MINERAL IN PRETERM INFANTS POST-DISCHARGE

Author
item SCHANLER, RICHARD - BAYLOR COLL OF MEDICINE

Submitted to: Ross Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/18/1995
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: During their hospital stays, to improve their survival, premature babies get special formulas with more protein, energy and minerals than formulas given full-term babies. Human milk fortifiers are generally used. Attention has focused on how well these special fortifiers meet the babies' mineral needs for later bone development. In one study, after hospital discharge, half the babies (who by then were equal to full-term babies in age) were switched from fortified human milk to full-term infant formula; the babies on term formula had more bone mineral than babies fed breast milk at 16 and 25 weeks and a year afterwards. Breast-fed babies' bone mass didn't catch up to term babies' until their second birthday. More attention should be paid to premature babies' post-hospital nutrition, aimed at building up their bone mass, which accumulates quickest in the first few months after discharge. A hospital discharge checklist would be a good idea to identify which premature babies are at nutritional risk after discharge. In general enriched formulas might be best for feeding premature babies at home, if the goal is to match the full-term baby soon after discharge.

Technical Abstract: Much attention has focused on improving both the survival and quality of life of premature infants by enhancing nutritional support regimens during their hospitalization. It has been shown, however, that beyond hospitalization, growth and body composition may not be similar to term infants. Bone mineralization at year in premature infants who were breastfed is significantly below that of term infants and also below that of premature infants fed formula. In-hospital milk preparations have been improved to allow better mineral retention. The growth and bone mineral content of premature infants fed human milk fortified with commercial protein-mineral sources remains below that of premature infants fed formula. Thus, further attention to in-hospital nutrient enrichment, coupled with postdischarge recommendations supporting the use of enriched diets, may be appropriate.