Unravelling the fetal origins hypothesis: is there really an inverse association between birthweight and subsequent blood pressure? Feeding Preterm Infants after Hospital Discharge: Effect of Diet on Body Composition Randomized diet in the neonatal period and growth performance until 7.5-8 y of age in preterm children. Effects of human milk or formula feeding on the growth, behavior, and protein status of preterm infants discharged from the newborn intensive care unit. Randomized trial of nutrient-enriched formula versus standard formula for postdischarge preterm infants. Feeding Preterm Infants after Hospital Discharge: Growth and Development at 18 Months of Age Increased bone mineral content of preterm infants fed with a nutrient enriched formula after discharge from hospital. Multicentre trial on feeding low birthweight infants: effects of diet on early growth. Randomised trial of nutrition for preterm infants after discharge. Feeding Preterm Infants after Hospital Discharge: Effect of Dietary Manipulation on Nutrient Intake and Growth Effect of caloric density on gastric emptying in premature infants. Growth of Preterm Infants Fed Nutrient-Enriched or Term Formula After Hospital Discharge Feeding the premature infant after hospital discharge: growth and biochemical responses. Growth and bone mineral status of discharged very low birth weight infants fed different formulas or human milk. Body composition in preterm infants fed standard term or enriched formula after hospital discharge Growth and body composition in infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia up to 3 months corrected age: a randomized trial of a high-energy nutrient-enriched formula fed after hospital discharge. Postnatal malnutrition and growth retardation: an inevitable consequence of current recommendations in preterm infants?
BACKGROUND The association between birthweight and subsequent blood pressure levels  has been considered to provide some of the strongest , and most consistent , support for the " fetal origins " hypothesis of adult disease . It had been estimated that a 1 kg higher birthweight is typically associated with a 2 - 4 mm Hg lower systolic blood pressure . METHODS 55 studies that had reported regression coefficients of systolic blood pressure on birthweight ( with 48 further studies that reported only the direction of this association ) , and seven such studies within twin pairs , were identified . Each study was weighted according to the inverse of the variance of the regression coefficient ( ie , " statistical size " ) , and combined using a " fixed effects " approach . FINDINGS Among the 55 studies that reported regression coefficients , there was a clear trend ( p<0.0001 ) towards weaker associations in the larger studies : -1.9 mm Hg/kg in those with less than about 1000 participants ; -1.5 mm Hg/kg with about 1000 - 3000 participants ; and -0.6 mm Hg/kg with more than 3000 participants . By contrast with the inverse associations reported in 52 of these 55 studies , only 25 of the 48 studies that did not report regression coefficients found an inverse association ( p<0.0001 for heterogeneity ) . Almost all of these regression coefficients had been adjusted for current weight ( whereas few were adjusted for potential confounding factors ) , and removal of this adjustment in the larger studies reduced the estimated association to -0.4 mm Hg/kg . For studies within monozygotic twin pairs , the combined estimate was -0.6 mm Hg/kg with adjustment for current weight , and was also reduced without this adjustment . INTERPRETATION Cl aims of a strong inverse association between birthweight and subsequent blood pressure may chiefly reflect the impact of r and om error , selective emphasis of particular results , and inappropriate adjustment for current weight and for confounding factors . These findings suggest that birthweight is of little relevance to blood pressure levels in later life Our purpose in this study was to examine whole body composition , using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry ( DEXA ) during dietary intervention in preterm infants ( ≤1750 g birthweight , ≤34 wk gestation ) . At discharge , infants were r and omized to be fed either a preterm infant formula ( discharge–6 mo ; group A ) or a term formula ( discharge–6 mo ; group B ) , or the preterm formula ( discharge – term ) and the term formula ( term–6 mo ; group C ) .  Nutrient intake was measured between each clinic visit . To measure body composition , DEXA was used at discharge , term , 12 wk , 6 mo , and 12 mo corrected age . The data were analyzed by ANOVA . At discharge , no differences were noted in patient characteristics between groups A , B , and C. Although energy intakes were similar , protein and mineral intakes differed between groups ( A > C > B;p < 0.0001 ) . During the study , weight gain and LM gain were greater in group A than B. At 12 mo , weight , LM , FM , and BMM but not % FM or BMD were greater in group A than B. However , the effects of diet were confined to boys , with no lasting effects seen in girls . In summary , therefore , DEXA was precise enough to detect differences in whole body composition during dietary intervention . Increased weight gain primarily reflected an increase in LM and is consistent with the idea that the preterm formula more closely met protein and /or protein-energy needs in rapidly growing preterm male infants BACKGROUND Preterm children are at high risk of poor growth performance . In 2 r and omized trials , preterm infants fed preterm formula grew better in the neonatal period than those fed banked donor breast milk or st and ard term formula . OBJECTIVE Our objective was to test the hypothesis that for preterm infants , the neonatal period is a critical one for programming growth performance and that early diet influences long-term growth . DESIGN A total of 926 preterm infants were recruited into 2 parallel , r and omized trials of neonatal diet . In trial 1 , infants were fed either banked donor breast milk or preterm formula whereas in trial 2 , infants were fed either st and ard term formula or preterm formula . Within each trial , the allocated milk was the sole diet for some infants ( study A ) , whereas for others it was a supplement to maternal breast milk , given when not enough expressed breast milk was available ( study B ) . We followed up 781 of 833 survivors ( 94 % ) to age 7.5 - 8 y. Trained assessors obtained anthropometric measurements according to a st and ard protocol . RESULTS Despite significantly better neonatal growth performance in infants fed preterm formula ( compared with either banked donor breast milk or st and ard formula ) , early diet had no influence on weight , height , head circumference , or skinfold thicknesses at 9 or 18 mo postterm or at age 7.5 - 8 y. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that the preterm period is not a critical window for nutritional programming of growth , which contrasts with evidence from these trials showing that early diet influences later neurodevelopment The growth , behavior , and protein status of 59 healthy preterm ( mean gestational age 30 wk ) infants fed either human milk or one of three infant formulas were studied post-discharge from the hospital . Formula-fed infants received either a st and ard term formula , a st and ard preterm formula , or an experimental preterm formula from discharge to 8 wk of age . From 8 to 16 wk , all formula-fed infants received the st and ard term formula . At 2 , 8 , and 16 wk , anthropometric , dietary intake , blood biochemistry , amino acid , and Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment measurements were evaluated . Weights , lengths , and head circumferences were similar for all feeding groups at discharge . After discharge all formula-fed infants were heavier than human milk-fed infants . Length and head circumference values and plasma urea nitrogen and retinol-binding protein concentrations were not different among dietary groups . Formula-fed infants had higher plasma concentrations of numerous amino acids compared with those of human milk-fed infants during the first 8 wk but not at 16 wk . There were no differences among the feeding groups in the Brazelton assessment . This study found little effect on the growth or behavioral or protein status of preterm infants discharged from the hospital who were fed either human milk or formulas design ed for term or preterm infants OBJECTIVES Preterm infants are frequently discharged from the hospital growth retarded and show reduced growth throughout childhood . In a large efficacy and safety trial , we tested the hypothesis that nutritional intervention in the first 9 months postterm would reverse postdischarge growth deficits and improve neurodevelopment without adverse safety outcomes . PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTION Two hundred eighty-four infants ( mean gestation : 30.9 weeks ) were studied ; 229 were r and omly assigned a  protein , energy , mineral , and micronutrient-enriched postdischarge formula ( PDF ; N = 113 ) or st and ard term formula  ( TF ; N = 116 ) from discharge ( mean 36.5 weeks ' postmenstrual age ) . A reference group ( N = 65 ) was  breastfed until at least 6 weeks ' postterm . Outcome measures . Anthropometry was performed at 6 weeks and 3 , 6 , 9 , and 18 months . Development was measured at 9 months ( Knobloch , Passamanick , and Sherrard 's developmental screening inventory ) and 18 months ( Bayley Scales of Infant Development II ; primary outcome ) postterm . RESULTS At 9 months , compared with the TF group , those fed PDF were heavier ( difference 370 g ; 95 % confidence interval [ CI ] : 84 - 660 ) and longer ( difference 1.1 cm ; 95 % CI : 0.3 - 1.9 ) ; the difference in length persisted at 18 months ( difference 0.82 cm ; 95 % CI : -0.04 - 1.7 ) . There was no effect on head circumference . The effect of diet was greatest in males ; at 9 months length deficit with TF was 1.5 cm ( 95 % CI : 0.3 - 2.7 ) , and this remained at 18 months ( 1.5 cm [ 95 % CI : 0.3 - 2.7 ] ) . There was no significant difference in developmental scores at 9 or 18 months , although PDF infants had a 2.8 ( -1.3 - 6.8 ) point advantage in Bayley motor score scales . At 6 weeks ' postterm , exclusively breastfed infants were already 513 g ( 95 % CI : 310 - 715 ) lighter and 1.6 cm ( 95 % CI : 0.8 - 2.3 ) shorter than the PDF group , and they remained smaller up to 9 months ' postterm . CONCLUSIONS 1 ) Improving postdischarge nutrition in the first 9 months may " reset " subsequent growth-at least until 18 months for body length . We intend to follow-up the children at older ages . The observed efficacy of PDF was not associated with adverse safety outcomes . 2 ) We can not reject the hypothesis that postdischarge nutrition benefits motor development and this requires additional study . 3 ) Our data raise the possibility that breastfed postdischarge preterm infants may require nutritional supplementation , currently under investigation We have shown that preterm infants fed a preterm formula grow better than those fed a st and ard term infant formula after hospital discharge . The purpose of this follow-up study was to determine whether improved early growth was associated with later growth and development . Preterm infants ( ≤1750 g birth weight , ≤34 wk gestation ) were r and omized to be fed either a preterm infant formula ( discharge to 6 mo corrected age ) , or a term formula ( discharge to 6 mo ) , or the preterm ( discharge to term ) and the term formula  ( term to 6 mo ) . Anthropometry was performed at 12 wk and 6 , 12 , and 18 mo . Mental and psychomotor development were assessed using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development II at 18 mo . Differences in growth observed at 12 wk were maintained at 18 mo . At 18 mo , boys fed the preterm formula were 1.0 kg heavier , 2 cm longer , and had a 1.0 cm greater occipitofrontal circumference than boys fed the term formula . Boys fed the preterm formula were also 600 g heavier and 2 cm longer than girls fed the preterm formula . However , no differences were noted in MDI or PDI between boys fed the preterm formula and boys fed the term formula or between the boys fed preterm formula and girls fed the preterm formula . Overall , boys had significantly lower MDI than girls ( mean difference , 6.0;p < 0.01 ) , primarily reflecting lower scores in boys fed the term formula . Thus , early diet has long-term effects on growth but not development at 18 mo of age . Sex remains an important confounding variable when assessing growth and developmental outcome in these high-risk infants Bone disease with persistent reduced bone mineralisation is common in premature infants . To test the hypothesis that enhancement of nutritional intake after discharge from hospital improves bone mineralisation , 31 formula fed preterm infants were r and omly assigned to receive st and ard or multinutrient enriched milk from the time of discharge . The calcium and phosphorus contents of the enriched milk were 70 and 35 mg/100 ml v 35 and 29 mg/100 ml for the st and ard formula . Bone mineral content was measured before discharge from hospital in 21 of the infants ; there was no difference in the bone mineral content between the groups at that time ( 35 mg/cm for the two groups ) . There was a significant increase in bone mineral content for those infants receiving the enriched v st and ard formula at 3 and 9 months corrected postnatal age : at 3 months the bone mineral content was 83 v 63 mg/cm and at 9 months 115 v 95 mg/cm . The difference between the groups was thus maintained although not increased at a corrected age of 9 months , when the bone mineral content of infants fed the enriched but not the st and ard formula was no longer significantly different from that of normal infants after adjusting for body size . The difference was not explained by the larger body size in infants fed the enriched formula . The results suggest that the use of a special nutrient enriched postdischarge formula has a significant positive effect on bone growth and mineralisation during a period of rapid skeletal development A large multicentre study on the short and long term clinical and developmental outcome of infants r and omised to different diets is being undertaken . This report represents an interim analysis of the early postnatal growth performance of an unselected population of 194 preterm infants ( gestation , mean ( SD ) 31 . 0 ( 2 . 9 ) weeks ; birthweight , mean ( SD ) 1364 ( 294 ) g ) , both ill and well , examined in two ( of four ) parallel trials . One trial compared banked breast milk with a new preterm formula ( primary trial ) ; the other compared these diets as supplements to maternal milk ( supplement trial ) . A major dietary effect on the number of days taken to regain birthweight and subsequent gains in weight , length , and head circumference was observed in the primary trial . Infants fed banked breast milk  and weighing less than 1200 g at birth took a calculated additional three weeks to reach 2000 g compared with those fed on the preterm formula . A significant influence of diet on body proportions was seen in the relation between body weight , head circumference , and length . Similar though smaller differences in growth patterns were seen in the supplement trial . By the time they reach 2000 g , infants of birthweights 1200 to 1849 g fed on banked breast milk and infants below 1200 g fed on either banked breast milk or maternal milk supplemented ( as necessary ) with banked breast milk , fulfilled stringent criteria for failure to thrive ( weight less than 2 SD below the mean for age ) . Only infants fed the preterm formula as their sole diet had maintained their birth centile by discharge from hospital . The misleading nature of comparisons between extrauterine and intrauterine steady state weight gains is emphasised In a r and omised double blind trial , the effect on growth and clinical status of a nutrient enriched ' post-discharge ' milk formula versus a st and ard term formula , was compared in 32 exclusively bottle fed preterm infants . The formulas were used as the sole milk intake up to a postnatal age of 9 months . Significant increases in linear growth and weight gain were observed in the infants who received the enriched diet . There were no differences in vomiting , posseting , or bowel habit between the groups . Formula volumes ingested were similar between diet groups , indicating that the difference in formula composition did not affect the infants ' regulation of intake . These preliminary data suggest that there is a role for specially design ed formulas for preterm infants after discharge from hospital The objective of this study was to compare  formula intake , the time of weaning , and growth in preterm infants ( ≤1750-g birth weight , ≤34-wk gestation ) fed a st and ard term or preterm infant formula after initial hospital discharge . Infants were r and omized at hospital discharge to be fed a  preterm infant formula from discharge to 6 mo corrected age  ( group A ) , a term formula from discharge to 6 mo ( group B ) , or the preterm formula ( discharge to term ) and the term formula ( term to 6 mo ( group C ) . Infants were seen biweekly(discharge to term ) and monthly ( term to 6 mo ) , when intake was measured and anthropometry and blood sampling were performed . The results were analyzed using ANOVA . Although nutrient intake was similar , at 6 mo girls were lighter(6829 versus 7280 g ) and shorter ( 64.4 versus 66.0 cm ) than boys ( p < 0.05 ) . Patient characteristics were similar between the treatment groups . Although the volume of intake differed ( B > C > A ; p < 0.001 ) , energy intake was similar in the groups . Because of differences in formula composition , protein , calcium , and phosphorus intakes differed ( B < C < A ; p < 0.001 ) . Lower protein intakes were related to lower blood urea nitrogen levels ( B < C < A ; p < 0.001 ) . At 6 mo , infant boys in B and C were lighter(6933 , 6660 < 7949 g ) , shorter ( 65.3 , 64.9 < 67.1 cm ) , and had a smaller head circumference ( 43.7 , 43.7 < 44.8 cm ; p < 0.05 ) than infants in group A. Preterm infants were found to increase their volume of intake to compensate for differences in energy density between formulas . After hospital discharge , infant boys fed a preterm formula grew faster than infant girls fed a preterm formula or infant boys fed a term formula The role of caloric density in the regulation of gastric emptying has been well documented in adults but studied to only a limited extent in young infants . Ten premature infants were each fed 22 ml/kg formula ( Similac Special Care ) , at concentrations of 24 , 20 , 13 , and 6.5 Cal/oz , as well as one feeding of distilled water . The volume of gastric contents was measured at 20-minute intervals by the double-aspiration technique using the marker polyethylene glycol 4000 . Analysis of variance demonstrated a significant inhibition of gastric emptying related to increasing caloric density ( P less than 0.001 ) when evaluated over the entire time of measurement . By 20 minutes , significant differences ( P less than 0.01 ) were present between 0 and 6.5 , 6.5 and 13 , and 13 and 20 Cal/oz . A volume difference between 20 and 24 Cal/oz ( P less than 0.05 ) was present only at 80 minutes . Despite the inhibition of emptying , higher caloric density feedings were associated with emptying of more calories over comparable periods ( P less than 0.001 ) . Regulation of gastric emptying by caloric density in premature infants is qualitatively similar to that in adults Objective . At hospital discharge , preterm infants may have low body stores of nutrients , deficient bone mineralization , and an accumulated energy deficit . This double-blind , r and omized study evaluated the growth of premature infants with birth weights < 1800 g who were fed a 22 kcal/fl oz nutrient-enriched postdischarge formula ( PDF ) or a 20 kcal/fl oz term-infant formula ( TF )  from hospital discharge to 12 months ' corrected age ( CA ) . Methods . Infants were r and omized to PDF or TF a few days before hospital discharge with stratification by gender and birth weight ( < 1250 g or ≥1250 g ) . The formulas were fed to 12 months ' CA . Growth was evaluated using analysis of variance controlling for site , feeding , gender , and birth weight group . Interaction effects were also assessed . Secondary analyses included a repeated measures analysis and growth modeling . Results . One hundred twenty-five infants were r and omized ; 74 completed to 6 months ' CA and 53 to 12 months ' CA . PDF-fed infants weighed more than TF-fed infants at 1 and 2 months ' CA , gained more weight from study day 1 to 1 and 2 months ' CA , and were longer at 3 months ' CA . There were significant interactions between feeding and birth weight group — among infants with birth weights < 1250 g , those fed PDF weighed more at 6 months ' CA , were longer at 6 months ' CA , had larger head circumferences at term 1 , 3 , 6 , and 12 months ' CA , and gained more in head circumference from study day 1 to term and to 1 month CA . The repeated measures and growth modeling analyses confirmed the analysis of variance results . The PDF formula seemed to be of particular benefit for the growth of male infants . Infants fed the PDF consumed less formula and had higher protein intakes at several time points . Energy intakes , however , were not different . Conclusions . Growth was improved in preterm infants fed a nutrient-enriched postdischarge formula after hospital discharge to 12 months ' CA . Beneficial effects were most evident among infants with birth weights < 1250 g , particularly for head circumference measurements We conducted a double-blinded , r and omized trial in premature infants after hospital discharge to test the hypotheses that growth and biochemical responses in those fed a formula with a reduced protein content ( 1.3 gm/dl ) would be similar to those in infants fed a  st and ard infant formula ( protein 1.5 gm/dl ) . Twenty low birth weight infants were followed for 16 weeks from the time of hospital discharge . Growth ( weight , length , and head circumference ) and biochemical responses ( total protein , prealbumin , retinol-binding protein , and blood urea nitrogen values ) were similar in the two groups of infants . Plasma amino acids reflected the differences in protein intakes and were similar to previously reported values for premature infants fed human milk or formula . These results demonstrate similar growth and biochemical responses in preterm infants fed a st and ard infant formula  and a formula with a protein content closer to that of human milk The objective of this study was to determine whether the growth and bone mineral status of discharged preterm infants fed human milk  differed from those of infants fed one of three different formulas varying in calcium content ( 545 mg/L , 660 mg/L , or 1290 mg/L ) . A r and omized , blinded study was conducted for 16 weeks after discharge in 16 human milk-fed and 43 formula-fed infants . All formula-fed infants received one of the three study formulas from discharge to 8 weeks afterward , and the st and ard formula , which contained 545 mg/L calcium , from 8 to 16 weeks . The human milk-fed infants gained weight more slowly than the formula-fed infants . The human milk-fed infants also had lower gains in length and higher serum alkaline phosphatase values than the formula-fed infants . The infants who received the formula containing the highest calcium concentration ( 1290 mg/L ) had greater bone mineral density during the first 8 weeks of the study . We conclude that preterm infants recently discharged from the hospital may benefit from higher calcium intake than is provided by either human milk or st and ard term formula Summary . Background : Most preterm infants are still preterm and have a low birth weight when they are discharged from the hospital . An important issue is whether the long-term consequences of early growth restriction can be diminished by nutritional intervention in preterm infants after discharge from the hospital . Aim : To evaluate differences in growth and in weight gain composition of preterm infants fed st and ard term formula ( SF ) or enriched formula ( PDF ) after discharge from hospital during the first 2 months of life . Methods : Thirty-three healthy preterm infants , birth weight < 1750 g at gestational age < 35 weeks , were r and omised to SF or PDF at the time of discharge from hospital . Anthropometric variables were studied longitudinally and body composition was measured using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry ( DEXA ) twice , before hospital discharge and two months later . Weight gain composition was calculated as the difference between the two determinations . Results : Seventeen infants were fed SF and 16 PDF .  Anthropometric variables and whole body composition were similar at birth , at the start of the nutritional study ( mean age 45 days ) , and at the end of the study 2 months later . Over the whole study period , weight gain and weight gain composition were similar in the two groups . Sex did not appear to influence weight gain and weight gain composition . In infants with growth restriction at discharge there was a significant reduction of weight gain , fat mass gain , and bone mineral content deposition independently of the formula provided . Conclusions : There is no immediate effect on preterm infants of a nutrient enriched formula compared with a st and ard formula on growth , weight gain , or weight gain composition OBJECTIVES ( 1 ) To determine whether nutrient malabsorption or inadequate nutrient intake were involved in the cause of growth delay in patients with bronchopulmonary dysplasia , and ( 2 ) to determine whether a nutrient-enriched formula given to infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia to 3 months corrected age improves the rate of growth with greater lean and bone mass accretion when compared with infants fed an isoenergetic st and ard infant formula . STUDY DESIGN A blinded , nutrition intervention trial of 60 preterm infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia ( birth weight , 866 + /- 169 g , gestational age , 26 + /- 1.5 weeks ) r and omized to either nutrient-enriched formula or st and ard formula .  Growth , body composition , and nutrient retention were compared between groups by Student 's t tests and analysis of covariance . RESULTS Infants fed the enriched formula had significantly greater nitrogen and mineral retention at 38 weeks ' postmenstrual age , and only the infants fed enriched formula had zinc retention similar to the intrauterine accretion . At 3 months corrected age infants fed enriched formula attained greater length ( P < .05 ) , greater radial bone mineral content ( P < .01 ) , and greater lean mass ( P < .01 ) . The male infants in the enriched formula group had greater whole body bone mineral content than did male infants in the st and ard formula group ( P = .02 ) . CONCLUSIONS Greater linear growth and lean and bone mass in the enriched formula group suggests that infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia attain faster " catch-up " growth when fed higher intakes of protein , calcium , phosphorus , and zinc than provided in st and ard proprietary formulas BACKGROUND Nutrient intakes meeting recommended dietary intakes ( RDIs ) take time to establish and once established are rarely maintained throughout hospital stay in preterm infants . A nutrient deficit , therefore , accrues . RDI are based on needs for maintenance and growth , with no provision to replace this deficit . We , therefore , hypothesized that postnatal malnutrition and growth retardation were inevitable in infants fed current RDI . METHODOLOGY Dietary intakes were prospect ively collected , by a single observer ( N.P. ) , on a daily basis in a group of preterm infants ( n = 105 ; birth weight < /=1750 g ; gestational age < /=34 weeks ) admitted to neonatal intensive care unit over a 6-month period . Actual was subtracted from recommended energy ( 120 kcal/kg/day ) and protein ( 3 g/kg/day ) intakes and nutritional deficits calculated . Infants were weighed on admission and throughout hospital stay . The data were analyzed using a combination of repeated measures analysis of variance and stepwise regression analysis . RESULTS Nutrient intakes meeting current RDIs were rarely achieved during early life . By the end of the first week , cumulative energy and protein deficits were 406 + /- 92 and 335 + /- 86 kcal/kg and 14 + /- 3 and 12 + /- 4 g/kg in infants < /=30 and those at > /=31 weeks . By the end of the fifth week , cumulative energy and protein deficits were 813 + /- 542 and 382 + /- 263 kcal/kg and 23 + /- 12 and 13 + /- 15 g/kg and the z scores were -1.14 + /-.6 and -.82 + /-.5 for infants at < /=30 and > /=31 weeks . Stepwise regression analysis indicated that variation in dietary intake accounted for 45 % of the variation in changes in z score . CONCLUSIONS Preterm infants inevitably accumulate a significant nutrient deficit in the first few weeks of life that will not be replaced when current RDIs are fed . This deficit can be directly related to subsequent postnatal growth retardation.postnatal growth retardation , preterm infants
BACKGROUND Preterm and low birth weight infants are often growth-restricted at hospital discharge .
Feeding infants post-hospital discharge with calorie and protein-enriched formula milk might facilitate " catch-up " growth and improve development .
OBJECTIVES To review the evidence from r and omised controlled trials that feeding following hospital discharge with calorie and protein-enriched formula compared with st and ard term formula improves growth and development for preterm or low birth weight infants .