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Very preterm infants who receive transitional formulas as a complement to human milk can achieve catch-up growth

Journal of Perinatology volume 39, pages 1492–1497 (2019)Cite this article

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A Correction to this article was published on 27 September 2022

This article has been updated

Abstract

Objective

To evaluate the growth of premature infants fed a postdischarge diet of human milk (HM) complemented with transitional formula (TF) as compared with those fed TF only.

Study design

In this prospective cohort study, 51 infants’ diets and anthropometrics were collected at discharge and at 12–15 months corrected gestational age.

Results

Post discharge, infants in both groups exhibited similar growth velocities and changes in z-scores. The duration of infants’ HM consumption was not correlated with weight gain (r = −0.25, p = 0.26). The duration of complementary TF feeds also did not correlate with increased growth (r = −0.11, p = 0.44). Both groups achieved catch-up growth and displayed growth velocities that significantly exceeded the upper limit of the World Health Organization (WHO) weight growth standard (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Preterm infants receiving HM and complementary TF post discharge had growth velocities at or exceeding weight gain projected by the WHO growth standard for term infants.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Andrea O'Donnell, RD for assistance with study visits.

Funding

This study was funded by a grant from the TCH Bad Pants Open Fund.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Section of Neonatology, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX, USA

    Amaryllis I. Fernandes, Joseph L. Hagan & Amy B. Hair

  2. Clinical Nutrition Services, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX, USA

    Laura A. Gollins

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  1. Amaryllis I. Fernandes
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  4. Amy B. Hair
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Correspondence to Amy B. Hair.

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Fernandes, A.I., Gollins, L.A., Hagan, J.L. et al. Very preterm infants who receive transitional formulas as a complement to human milk can achieve catch-up growth. J Perinatol 39, 1492–1497 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-019-0499-2

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