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Growth and early neurodevelopmental outcomes in extremely low birth weight infants fed donor breast milk (247.1)
Author(s) -
Madore Laura,
Jumani Tina,
Dengos Allison,
Prange Hannah,
Sen Sarbattama
Publication year - 2014
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.28.1_supplement.247.1
Subject(s) - medicine , necrotizing enterocolitis , breast milk , low birth weight , sepsis , pediatrics , birth weight , newborn screening , infant formula , obstetrics , pregnancy , biology , biochemistry , genetics
BACKGROUND: Breast milk (BM) is the recommended form of nutrition for premature infants; human donor breast milk (DBM) is an alternative when mother’s own milk (MOM) is unavailable or in low supply. DBM is pooled and pasteurized mature BM that is donated to milk bank centers by mothers with excess pumped milk. DBM may offer many of the same benefits as MOM, but may not adequately support infant growth likely due to its altered nutritional status. Inadequate weight gain in premature infants is associated with compromised neurodevelopment (ND). OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to determine the effects of DBM feedings on growth and early ND in extremely low birth weight infants as compared to those fed MOM or fed formula (FF). METHODS: This was a retrospective, single‐center cohort study. We compared 27 preterm infants fed primarily DBM to age‐ and weight‐matched controls that were fed MOM (n=27) or FF (n=25). Neonatal growth rates and 12 months corrected age (CA) Bayley III ND scores were compared using ANOVA and chi‐squared analysis. RESULTS: There was no difference in infant demographics, illness severity or morbidities, such as necrotizing enterocolitis and sepsis, among groups. DBM fed infants gained significantly less weight in the first month of life compared to premature infants fed MOM or FF (9.7 ± 3.5 g/kg/day in DBM fed infants versus 12.5 ± 3.7 and 12.3 ± 3.8 g/kg/day for MOM and FF, respectively; p value <0.05). Our preliminary findings at 12 months CA suggest that DBM infants are approximately 1 SD below controls in all areas of ND testing including cognition, language and motor skills (see figure 1). There is no difference in growth between groups at 12 months CA. Follow‐up data collection is currently ongoing. CONCLUSION: In comparison to premature infants fed MOM or FF, those fed DBM have impaired early growth. Given the strong association between adequate weight gain and improved ND, our results suggest that suboptimal weight gain in premature infants fed DBM may compromise early ND outcomes.