Post-discharge nutrition of the very low-birthweight infant: interim results of the multicentric GAMMA study

Abstract

This report presents the interim results up to 12 mo corrected age (c.a.) of a multicentric, prospective, controlled study on very low-birthweight infants, randomized at 40 wk post-conception in two different groups of formula feeding: 80 Kcal/dL (group A) vs 70 Kcal/dL (group B) up to 55 wk of postconceptional age. Subsequently, all the babies were fed with a follow-on formula, with the introduction of solid foods at 6 mo c.a. Weight, length, head circumference and neurological conditions with psychomotor development (evaluated by the Griffiths' Developmental Scale) were measured at regular intervals and all of these parameters were satisfactory in both groups. For growth, in group A there was a greater increase in weight in boys at 55 wk and at 6 mo c.a., and small for gestational age (SGA) babies had a greater increase in length at 1 y of age, while head circumference caught up on growth from week 40 to week 55. Measured by the Griffiths' Developmental Scale, the SGA group fed 80 Kcal/dL had a better score at 6 mo; similarly boys fed 80 Kcal/dL had a better score at 6 and at 9 mo.

Conclusion: Nutrition of very low birthweight infants post-discharge could have an influence on physical growth and on neurodevelopmental outcome. This interim report needs to be confirmed at the end of the study.