ARS | Publication request: EARLY ENTERAL FEEDING PLUS SUPPLEMENTAL PARENTERAL NUTRITION GIVES PREMATURE INFANTS THE BEST START

Submitted to: Proceedings World Congress of Perinatal Medicine
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: April 18, 1999
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: Data on enteral feeding management of premature infants are limited and often not the subject of randomized clinical trials. Several small studies suggest benefits from the early initiation of feeding, but do not assess the combined effects of time of initiation of feeding, tube-feeding method, and type of milk used. A total of 171 premature infants, stratified by gestational age and diet (human milk or preterm formula) were assigned randomly among four treatment combinations in a balanced two-way design comparing the presence or absence of GI priming for 10 days and continuous infusion vs intermittent bolus tube-feeding. GI priming was not associated with any measured adverse effect and was associated with better Ca and P retention, and shorter intestinal transit times. The greater the quantity of human milk fed, the lower the morbidity. Early GI priming with human milk, using the bolus tube-feeding method, may provide the best advantage for the premature infant.