Amino-Acid Mixtures as an Additional Food for Premature Infants

Abstract

IT is generally agreed that human milk is far superior to all other foods for premature infants, and this form of nutriment seems to be one of the essentials for a low mortality. As a rule, however, these infants have begun their extra-uterine life far too early, and in their case, therefore, breast milk cannot be said to be the ideal nourishment to the same extent as it is for those born at term. In the rearing of premature infants, also, there is the question of supplying food in sufficient quantities to be met, a factor which need not be considered with full-term babies. This difficulty is especially noticeable in the case of small infants whose weight at birth is considerably below 2,000 gm. To cover the high calory requirements of these infants solely by means of human milk, with its 70 or so calories per decilitre, places a high demand not only on the holding capacity of the stomach but also on the digestive organs as a whole. It should be remembered, also, that in nearly all premature infants the digestive organs are functioning below par, during the first weeks at least.