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Higher protein preterm formula increases weight gain
Author(s) -
Simpson Shelby,
Kennedy Tay,
Larzelere Robert
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.27.1_supplement.1075.5
Subject(s) - head circumference , medicine , necrotizing enterocolitis , breast milk , circumference , weight gain , low birth weight , pediatrics , birth weight , infant formula , zoology , mathematics , body weight , biology , pregnancy , geometry , biochemistry , genetics
This study examined weight gain and growth in head circumference in 95 low birth weight infants (range 609–2495 grams) in a regional NICU before (n= 51) and after transition to a higher protein formula (n = 44). Multilevel modeling was used to predict the trajectory of gains in weight and head circumference based on the number of days the infants received traditional preterm formula, high protein formula or breast milk and/or a preterm discharge formula. Controlling for baseline growth (breast/discharge group) and predictors of growth trajectory including birth weight, gender and necrotizing enterocolitis, the high‐protein formula predicted an additional increase in weight (11 extra grams per day, t (897) = 6.38, p < .001) and a marginal additional increase in head circumference (.017 cm, t [1177] = 1.87, p = .06). In contrast, the traditional formula predicted an additional decrease in weight (−6.6 fewer grams per day, t [897] = −6.84, p < .001), but an additional increase in head circumference (.014 cm, t [1177] = 2.54, p < .05). Thus premature infants gained more weight from the high‐protein formula than from the traditional formula under conditions that likely had similar selection biases, but were equivalent in increasing head circumference.