Early-life nutrition is associated with processing speed at age 5 in children born preterm with very low birth weight.
J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr
; 79(1): 140-147, 2024 Jul.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38698666
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
Processing speed is suboptimal among preterm-born children which is of concern as it is a foundational skill supporting higher-level cognitive functions. The study objective was to evaluate associations between early-life nutrition and processing speed in childhood.METHODS:
Macronutrient and human milk (mother's own, donor) intakes from 137 children born preterm with very low birth weight enrolled in a nutrition feeding trial were included. Processing speed was evaluated at age 5 using the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence-fourth edition Processing Speed Index. Associations between early-life nutrition and processing speed were explored through linear regression.RESULTS:
Children had a mean (standard deviation [SD]) birth gestational age of 28.1 (2.5) weeks, weight of 1036 (260) g and 52% were male. The mean (SD) assessment age was 5.7 (0.2) years. Sex-dependent relationships were identified between first postnatal month protein, lipid and energy intakes and processing speed at 5 years. For females, lower protein (per 0.1 g/kg/d -0.88, 95% confidence interval [CI] -1.53, -0.23; p = 0.01) and energy (per 10 kcal/kg/d -2.38, 95% CI -4.70, -0.05; p = 0.03) intakes were related to higher processing speed scores. Mother's milk provision was positively associated (per 10% increase 0.80, 95% CI 0.22, 1.37; p = 0.01) and donor milk was negatively associated (per 10% increase -1.15, 95% CI -2.22, -0.08; p = 0.04) with processing speed scores; no sex differences were observed.CONCLUSIONS:
First postnatal month nutrition was related to processing speed at age 5 in children born preterm with very low birth weight. Early-life nutrition that supports processing speed may be leveraged to improve later cognitive outcomes for this vulnerable population.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Infant, Premature
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Infant, Very Low Birth Weight
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Milk, Human
Limits:
Child, preschool
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Female
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Humans
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Male
/
Newborn
Language:
En
Journal:
J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr
/
J. pediatr. gastroenterol. nutr
/
Journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition
Year:
2024
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Canada