IMPROVED GROWTH OF VERY-LOW-BIRTH-WEIGHT INFANTS

Fifty-two infants, <1500 g birthweight (mean birthweight 1100 +/- 273 g; mean gestational age 29 +/- 3.1 wks) were recruited from three neon atal intensive care units in St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada. When in fants reached a weight of 1850 + 100 g, they were randomly assigned to receive one of two feedings for 6 months; an iso-caloric ''nutrient e nriched'' (group=LBW) formula or a standard term Whey formula (group=S TAND). In hospital and at 3, 6, 9, 12 +/- 0.75 months corrected for ge stational age, weight, length mid-arm, head circumference and dietary records were recorded. Post-discharge, a Griffiths's Developmental ass essment was completed. In hospital, weight gain differed significantly (P<0.05) for LBW infants during both the lst and 2nd week; LBW week 1 - 13.0 +/- 0.9; week 2 - 19.5 +/- 1.1 vs. STAND 12.1 +/- 1, 15.8 +/- 1, g/kg/d. LBW infants were discharged at a significantly earlier time (19 +/- 2 days) than were infants in the STAND group (30 +/- 2 days). Postdischarge, there was a trend (P=0.06) in length velocity Z scores between the LBW (0.0435 +/- 0.08) vs the STAND group (-0.0267 +/- 0.1 28) over the length of the study period. No differences were found in developmental quotients between the two groups. We conclude that growt h of premature infants may be best served by providing a nutrient dens e formula, once oral feeds are consumed.