[Attention to nutrition and health of preterm infants: interpretation of The Global Consensus for Feeding the Preterm Infant]

Abstract

The Global Consensus for Feeding the Preterm Infant was published in the Journal of Pediatrics 3 supplement, 2013. The content of the consensus includes recommended nutrient intake for different gestational age preterm infants, identifying appropriate growth curves, the use of breast milk, nutritional recommendations for the late-preterm infant and the preterm infant after hospital discharge, nutritional requirements and feeding recommendations for small gestation age infants, reconsideration of the importance of vitamin A and vitamin D for immature infants, recommendations for immunonutrients, and the association of feeding of preterm infants with later metabolic and cardiovascular outcomes. The main characteristics of the consensus: (1) aimed to improve prognosis; (2) individualized nutritional strategy based on gestational ages; (3) coexistence of consensus and controversy in feeding of preterm infants.