Prealbumin as a marker of effectiveness of parenteral and enteral nutrition in premature neonates

Nutrition intervention is often required in the premature neonatal populati on. Prealbumin (PAB) was investigated as a marker of nutritional response t o different feeding modalities in this population. Parenteral, transitional , and enteral conditions were analyzed with regard to protein, nitrogen and caloric content, The response of PAB to each of these feeding methods was then compared to determine the effectiveness of the respective intervention . Enteral feeding resulted in the most accelerated increase in circulating PA B levels, This could be explained by the fact that enteral feeding was able to deliver higher concentrations of protein and nitrogen when compared to parenteral feeding, but a lack of an anabolic response was observed in neon ates who required extended parenteral support with equivalent levels of pro tein and nitrogen in the diet. Parenteral feeding was able to maintain a me tabolic state, but appeared unable to invoke a sustained anabolic response in this population.