Early energy and protein intakes and associations with growth, BPD, and ROP in extremely preterm infants.

BACKGROUND & AIM: Extremely preterm infants face substantial neonatal morbidity. Nutrition is important to promote optimal growth and organ development in order to reduce late neonatal complications. The aim of this study was to examine the associations of early nutritional intakes on growth and risks of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in a high-risk population. METHODS: This population-based cohort study includes infants born before 27 0/7 weeks of gestational age without severe malformations and surviving ≥10 days. Intake of energy and protein on postnatal days 4-6 and association with weight standard deviation score (WSDS) from birth to day 7, as well as intakes of energy and protein on postnatal days 4-6 and 7 to 27, respectively, and association with composite outcome of death and BPD and separate outcomes of BPD and ROP were examined, and adjusted for potential confounders. RESULTS: The cohort comprised 296 infants with a median gestational age of 25 3/7 weeks. Expressed as daily intakes, every additional 10 kcal/kg/d of energy during days 4-6 was associated with 0.08 higher WSDS on day 7 (95% CI 0.06-0.11; p < 0.001). Between days 7 and 27, every 10 kcal/kg/d increase in energy intake was associated with a reduced risk of BPD of 9% (95% CI 1-16; p = 0.029) and any grade of ROP with a reduced risk of 6% (95% CI 2-9; p = 0.005) in multivariable models. This association was statistically significant in infants with ≤10 days of mechanical ventilation. In infants with >10 days of mechanical ventilation, a combined higher intake of energy and protein was associated with a reduced risk of BPD. CONCLUSION: Early provision of energy and protein may reduce postnatal weight loss and risk of morbidity in extremely preterm infants.

Improved nutrition for extremely preterm infants - A population based observational study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Extremely preterm (EPT) infants are at high risk for malnutrition due to immaturity and medical complications and they often accumulate nutritional deficits and experience growth faltering during treatment at neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Enhanced intake of energy and protein during the first weeks of life improves weight gain and head circumference growth. The optimal nutritional strategy for these infants' health and long-term development remains unknown. Nutritional regiments have been identified as a potential area for improvement in Swedish NICUs. The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in nutritional intake over time during the first 56 postnatal days in EPT (<27 gestational weeks; n = 316) infants, who were treated in NICUs during 2004-2011 in Stockholm, using a population-based study approach. METHODS: Several different nutritional interventions were implemented over the 8-year period. Nutrition and growth data were obtained retrospectively from hospital records. All intakes of enteral and parenteral nutrients were retrieved daily during the first 28 postnatal days and on days 35, 42, 49 and 56. RESULTS: Energy intake (median) increased from 77 kcal/kg/d during the 2004-2005 period to 98 kcal/kg/d during the 2010-2011 period on days 4-6. Median protein intake increased from 2.4 g/kg/d during 2004-2005 to 3.6 g/kg/d during 2010-2011. Energy and protein intake during postnatal days 0-6 increased continuously over the 8 years and protein intake increased during all 56 postnatal days. Full enteral feeds were reached earlier and the proportion of enteral feeds during the first week was higher during 2008-2009 compared to all other years. A significant improvement in growth was primarily noted by comparing the 2004-2005 period to subsequent years. CONCLUSIONS: Neonatal nutrition improved significantly in Stockholm from 2004 to 2011. Above all, parenteral nutrition was initiated more promptly during the first week and was provided at higher quantities. However, many of the EPT infants born during the later years still did not reach the recommended macronutrient intake levels. A significant weight gain improvement was observed between 2004-2005 and 2006-2011.

Perioperative nutrition in extremely preterm infants undergoing surgical treatment for patent ductus arteriosus is suboptimal.

AIM: To evaluate perioperative nutrition in extremely preterm infants undergoing surgery for patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). METHODS: This is a population-based study of extremely preterm infants born in Sweden during 2004-2007 and operated on for PDA. Data on perioperative nutrition were obtained from hospital records. All enteral and parenteral nutrients and blood products were used to calculate daily nutritional intakes, starting 3 days before and ending 3 days after surgery. Data are mean (95% confidence intervals). RESULTS: Study infants (n = 140) had a mean gestational age (GA) of 24.8 weeks, and mean birth weight was 723 g. Energy and macronutrient intakes were below minimal requirements before, during and after PDA surgery. On the day of surgery, energy intake was 78 (74-81) kcal/kg/day, protein 2.9 (2.7-3.2) g/kg/day, fat 2.5 (2.3-2.7) g/kg/day and carbohydrate intake 10.7 (10.2-11.2) g/kg/day. Nutrition did not vary in relation to GA, but infants operated early (0-6 days after birth) received poorer nutrition than infants operated at older age. Fluid intake was 164 (159-169) mL/kg/day, and it did not vary during the week of surgery. CONCLUSION: Perioperative nutrition in extremely preterm infants undergoing PDA surgery in Sweden is suboptimal and needs to be improved. The significance of malnutrition for outcome after PDA surgery remains unclear and requires further investigation.

Diet, growth, and the risk for type 1 diabetes in childhood: a matched case-referent study.

OBJECTIVE: To study the association between type 1 diabetes risk and previous intake of energy, accounting for body size and previous intake of nutrients and foods, accounting for the energy intake. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We conducted an incident population-based case-referent study in Stockholm, Sweden, including 99 of 100 eligible 7- to 14-year-old diabetic children and 180 of 200 age-, sex-, and area-matched referent children identified through the Swedish population register. Average daily energy and nutrient intake 1 year before diabetes diagnosis/interview was estimated using the food frequency questionnaire with assessment of consumed food amounts. Mean SD scores of growth measurements taken during the last 4 years before the diagnosis were used. Odds ratios (ORs) were calculated by conditional logistic regression. RESULTS: Average intake of energy, carbohydrate, fat, and protein was significantly higher among the case subjects as well as mean weight-for-age SD score. Higher energy intake and weight-for-age were both associated with increased diabetes risk after adjustment for each other: OR (95% CI) for medium and high levels of energy intake were 1.33 (0.52-3.42) and 5.23 (1.67-16.38), respectively, and for weight-for-age were 3.20 (1.30-7.88) and 3.09 (1.16-8.22), respectively. High intake of carbohydrates, especially disaccharides and sucrose, increased diabetes risk. CONCLUSIONS: Higher energy intake and larger body size were independently associated with increased diabetes risk. Of the different nutrients, higher intake of carbohydrates, particularly disaccharides and sucrose, increased the risk. Lifestyle habits leading to higher energy intake and more rapid growth in childhood may contribute to the increase of childhood-onset type 1 diabetes by different mechanisms.