Does High Protein Intake During First Week of Life Improve Growth and Neurodevelopmental Outcome at 18 months Corrected Age in Extremely Preterm Infants?

Abstract

Objective: To examine whether high protein intake during the first week of life alters the growth and neurodevelopmental outcomes at 18 mo corrected age (CA) in preterm infants born < 29 wk.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of preterm infants (<29 wk) before and after introduction of nutritional policy targeting higher protein intake during the first week of life. The authors compared the growth and neurodevelopmental outcomes at 18 mo CA between infants born before (epoch 1) and after (epoch 2) the introduction of nutrition policy.

Results: Of 171 eligible infants who completed follow-up at 18 mo CA, 87 (51 %) were in post intervention group (epoch 2). The mean (± SD) gestational age (26.3 ± 1.49 wk vs. 26.2 ± 1.48 wk) and birth weight (947 ± 220 g vs. 924 ± 225 g) were similar between the two groups. At 18 mo CA, there were no significant differences in the growth and neurodevelopmental impairment rates between the two groups. Logistic regression analysis revealed that high protein intake (>3.5 g/kg/d) was not associated with improved neurodevelopmental outcome (OR 1.49, 95 % CI 0.52-4.26).

Conclusions: High protein intake during the first week of age was not associated with better growth or neurodevelopmental outcome at 18 mo CA in preterm infants.

Keywords: Growth; Neonate; Neurodevelopmental outcomes; Preterm; Protein.