IMPROVED GROWTH OF VERY-LOW-BIRTH-WEIGHT INFANTS

Fifty-two infants, <1500 g birthweight (mean birthweight 1100 +/- 273 g; mean gestational age 29 +/- 3.1 wks) were recruited from three neonatal intensive care units in St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada. When infants reached a weight of 1850 + 100 g, they were randomly assigned to receive one of two feedings for 6 months; an iso-caloric ''nutrient enriched'' (group=LBW) formula or a standard term Whey formula (group=STAND). In hospital and at 3, 6, 9, 12 +/- 0.75 months corrected for gestational age, weight, length mid-arm, head circumference and dietary records were recorded. Post-discharge, a Griffiths's Developmental assessment was completed. In hospital, weight gain differed significantly (P<0.05) for LBW infants during both the lst and 2nd week; LBW week 1 - 13.0 +/- 0.9; week 2 - 19.5 +/- 1.1 vs. STAND 12.1 +/- 1, 15.8 +/- 1, g/kg/d. LBW infants were discharged at a significantly earlier time (19 +/- 2 days) than were infants in the STAND group (30 +/- 2 days). Postdischarge, there was a trend (P=0.06) in length velocity Z scores between the LBW (0.0435 +/- 0.08) vs the STAND group (-0.0267 +/- 0.128) over the length of the study period. No differences were found in developmental quotients between the two groups. We conclude that growth of premature infants may be best served by providing a nutrient dense formula, once oral feeds are consumed.