Introduction
NEC, human milk
PRETERM BIRTH
The last trimester of pregnancy, which is often lost in preterm birth, is the time when the fetus has the most protein intake for growth. Furthermore, extremely preterm infants lose protein approximately twofold that of term infants [Over the past decade, the incidence of preterm births and survival rate of very low birth weight (VLBW) infants has increased. The medical care and survival rates of preterm infants, even those as early as 24 weeks GA and as small as 600 g, have improved remarkably [Although the protein content of preterm human milk is greater than term human milk, it does not entirely provide the nutritional needs of preterm infants. The protein content and composition of human milk change through the first weeks of lactation from approximately 1.7 g/dL at 7 days to 1.2 g/dL by 42 days [The objectives of this prospective clinical trial are to determine the growth parameters during the NICU admission in preterm infants with GA≤33 weeks and birth weight less than 1500 g (VLBW) and evaluate the effect of additional enteral protein supplement on the anthropometric parameters after reaching full enteral feed with either FBM or PF; we also aimed to check the effect of high protein milk on albumin, BUN levels and venous blood gas analysis, and incidence of NEC.