Prematurity, Growth & Undernutrition – Infant Clinical Research

Studies analyzing challenges surrounding preterm and term infant growth and development.

Pediatric Malnutrition Screening Tools

Nutrition screening tools have been developed for pediatric patients to help facilitate the identification of kids at risk for malnutrition. This review provides an overview of recent progress in screening methods.

Hulst JM, Huysentruyt K, Joosten KF. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2020;23(3):203-209. doi:10.1097/MCO.0000000000000644

Post-discharge Feeding of Very Low-Birth-Weight Infants (VLBW): Adherence to Nutrition Guidelines

Read a study that explores feeding practices versus feeding guideline adherence for nutritionally vulnerable VLBW infants. This study followed post-discharge feeding practices for those born VLBW to see if they aligned with current recommendations.

Francis J, Unger S, Bando N, et al. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2018;67(3):401-408. doi:10.1097/MPG.0000000000002041

Enteral Vitamin D Supplementation in Preterm or Low-Birth-Weight (LBW) Infants: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Read a study which assesses the effects of enteral vitamin D supplementation compared with no vitamin D supplementation in human milk-fed preterm or LBW infants.

Kumar M, Shaikh S, Sinha B, et al. Pediatrics. 2022;150(Suppl 1):e2022057092K. doi:10.1542/peds.2022-057092K

The Burden of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Infection During Baby's First Year

A study of infants who developed RSV in the first year of life: incidence, hospitalization, treatment, and concurrent acute otitis media.

Thomas E, Mattila JM, Lehtinen P, Vuorinen T, Waris M, Heikkinen T. J Infect Dis. 2021;223(5):811-817. doi:10.1093/infdis/jiaa754

Catch-up Growth in Very Preterm-Born Infants (VPI)

Review the clinical study that shows achievable catch-up growth in VPI when transitional formula complements human milk feeding.

Fernandes AI, Gollins LA, Hagan JL, Hair AB. J Perinatol. 2022. doi: 10.1038/s41372-022-01510-6

The Role of Nutrition in Brain Development: The Golden Opportunity of the "First 1000 Days"

This article focuses on brain development in late fetal and early postnatal life. Evidence presented showed how nutrition can support optimal brain development before the age of 3 years.

Cusick SE, Georgieff MK. J Pediatr. 2016;175:16-21. doi:10.1016/j.jpeds.2016.05.013

SARS-CoV-2 Exposure from Healthcare Workers to Infants

This study evaluated the risk and outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 transmission from positive healthcare workers to infants in the NICU and the postnatal ward.

Shaiba LA, Hadid A, Abdulghani SH, Hussain SA, Shah PS. [published online August 27, 2021]. Am J Perinatol. 2021;10.1055/s-0041-1735215. doi:10.1055/s-0041-1735215

Clinical Study of 2'-FL HMO Reviewed

In this video, John T Stutts MD, MPH, discusses a clinical study that evaluated growth, tolerance, and outcomes of infants fed infant formula with and without 2'-FL HMO compared with infants fed breast milk.

Protein Enrichment of Donor Breast Milk and Impact on Growth Study

Infants in the study received initial feedings of donor breast milk, maternal breast milk, or donor breast milk with protein enrichment; followed by multi-nutrient-fortified human milk. Initial protein enrichment of donor breast milk appeared safe for stable very-low-birth-weight infants.

Fu TT, Kaplan HC, Fields T, Folger AT, Gordon K, Poindexter BB. Nutrients. 2021;13(8):2869. doi:10.3390/nu13082869

Targeted Breast Milk Fortification for Very Low-Birth-Weight Infants: Nutritional Intake, Growth Outcome, and Body Composition

An interventional study compared body composition and growth outcomes of very low-birth-weight infants fed targeted protein-fortified human milk (HM) with those fed standard fortified HM.

Parat S, Raza P, Kamleh M, Super D, Groh-Wargo S. Nutrients. 2020;12(4):1156. doi:10.3390/nu12041156

Comparison of the Effect of Two Human Milk Fortifiers on Clinical Outcomes in Premature Infants

A study which compared and quantified effects on premature infants being fed Acidified Liquid HMF (ALHMF) versus those receiving powdered HMF (PHMF).

Thoene M, Hanson C, Lyden E, Dugick L, Ruybal L, & Anderson-Berry A. Nutrients. 2014;6(1):261–275. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu6010261

Clinical Study of 2'-FL HMO Reviewed

In this video, John T Stutts MD, MPH, discusses a clinical study that evaluated growth, tolerance, and outcomes of infants fed infant formula with and without 2'-FL HMO compared with infants fed breast milk.

Protein Enrichment of Donor Breast Milk and Impact on Growth Study

Infants in the study received initial feedings of donor breast milk, maternal breast milk, or donor breast milk with protein enrichment; followed by multi-nutrient-fortified human milk. Initial protein enrichment of donor breast milk appeared safe for stable very-low-birth-weight infants.

Fu TT, Kaplan HC, Fields T, Folger AT, Gordon K, & Poindexter BB. Protein Enrichment of Donor Breast Milk and Impact on Growth in Very Low Birth Weight Infants. Nutrients. 2021;13(8),2869. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13082869

Targeted Breast Milk Fortification for Very Low-Birth-Weight Infants: Nutritional Intake, Growth Outcome, and Body Composition

An interventional study compared body composition and growth outcomes of very low-birth-weight infants fed targeted protein-fortified human milk (HM) with those fed standard fortified HM.

Parat S, et al. Nutrients. 2020;12(4):1156. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12041156

Comparison of the Effect of Two Human Milk Fortifiers on Clinical Outcomes in Premature Infants

A study which compared and quantified effects on premature infants being fed Acidified Liquid HMF (ALHMF) versus those receiving powdered HMF (PHMF).

Thoene M, Hanson C, Lyden E, Dugick L, Ruybal L, & Anderson-Berry A Comparison of the effect of two human milk fortifiers on clinical outcomes in premature infants. Nutrients. 2014;6(1):261–275. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu6010261

Probiotics and Preterm Infants: A Position Paper by the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition Committee (ESPGHAN) on Nutrition and the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition Working Group for Probiotics and Prebiotics

This ESPGHAN probiotic meta-analysis paper identifies strains with high efficacy and addresses safety issues of probiotic supplementation to preterm infants, who have reduced immunological capacities and occasional indwelling catheters.

van den Akker C, van Goudoever JB, Shamir R, et al. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2020;70(5):664-680. doi:10.1097/MPG.0000000000002655

Improved Outcomes in Preterm Infants Fed a Nonacidified Liquid Human Milk Fortifier: A Prospective Randomized Clinical Trial

A controlled study with the goal of comparing growth, feeding tolerance, and clinical and biochemical evaluations in human milk-fed preterm infants who received either an acidified or nonacidified liquid human milk fortifier.

Schanler RJ, Groh-Wargo SL, Barrett-Reis B, White RD, Ahmad KA, Oliver J, Baggs G, Williams L, & Adamkin D. Improved Outcomes in Preterm Infants Fed a Nonacidified Liquid Human Milk Fortifier: A Prospective Randomized Clinical Trial.  J. Pediatr. 2018;202:31–37.e2. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpeds.2018.07.005

Growth and Tolerance of Preterm Infants Fed a New Extensively Hydrolyzed Liquid Human Milk Fortifier

This study was a comparison of growth and tolerance in premature infants fed either standard powdered human milk fortifier (HMF) or a newly formulated concentrated liquid that contained extensively hydrolyzed protein.

Kim JH, Chan G, Schanler R, Groh-Wargo S, Bloom B, Dimmit R, Williams L, Baggs G, & Barrett-Reis B. Growth and Tolerance of Preterm Infants Fed a New Extensively Hydrolyzed Liquid Human Milk Fortifier. J. Pediatr. Gastroenterol. Nutr. 2015;61(6):665–671. https://doi.org/10.1097/MPG.0000000000001010

Growth of Preterm Infants Fed Nutrient-Enriched or Term Formula After Hospital Discharge

A double-blind study evaluating the growth of preterm infants fed nutrient-enriched or term formula after hospital discharge.

Carver JD, Wu PY, Hall RT, Ziegler EE, Sosa R, Jacobs J, Baggs G, Auestad N, & Lloyd B. Growth of preterm infants fed nutrient-enriched or term formula after hospital discharge. Pediatrics. 2001;107(4):683–689. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.107.4.683

Body Composition in Preterm Infants Who Are Fed Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids: A Prospective, Randomized, Controlled Trial

This study evaluates growth and body composition in premature infants who were fed formulas that contain long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Groh-Wargo S, Jacobs J, Auestad N, O'Connor DL, Moore JJ, & Lerner E. Body composition in preterm infants who are fed long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids: a prospective, randomized, controlled trial. Pediatr. Res. 2005;57(5 Pt 1):712–718. https://doi.org/10.1203/01.PDR.0000156509.29310.55

Growth and Development in Preterm Infants Fed Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids: A Prospective, Randomized Controlled Trial

A randomized trial which assessed growth and development in premature infants fed formulas with oils containing the long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids.

O'Connor DL, Hall R, Adamkin D, Auestad N, Castillo M, Connor WE, Connor S L, Fitzgerald K, Groh-Wargo S, Hartmann EE, Jacobs J, Janowsky J, Lucas A, Margeson D, Mena P, Neuringer M, Nesin M, Singer L, Stephenson T, Szabo J, … Ross Preterm Lipid Study. Growth and development in preterm infants fed long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids: a prospective, randomized controlled trial. Pediatrics. 2001;108(2), 359–371. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.108.2.359

Prospective Comparison Study Comparing Two Human Milk Fortifiers on Clinical Outcomes in Premature Infants

A prospective comparison of Enfamil and Similac liquid human milk fortifier on growth and metabolic outcomes in premature infants.

Kumar N, Monga R, Sampath V, & Ehrhart B. Prospective Comparison of Enfamil and Similac Liquid Human Milk Fortifier on Clinical Outcomes in Premature Infants. Am. J. Perinat. 2017;34(14), 1411–1416. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0037-1603940