Results
weight gain, acidosis
NECROTIZING ENTEROCOLITIS, ACIDOSIS
Five out of 77 participants were excluded due to feeding intolerance. Analyses were conducted on 36 neonates with protein intake of 3.66 ± 0.22 gr/kg/day and 36 with extra protein intake. Baseline characteristics were similar between the groups. An additional protein supply of 0.89 gr/kg/day, resulting in an average protein intake of 4.55 ± 0.18 in the intervention group, increased the postnatal weight gain, linear growth, and head circumference growth (7.98 gr/kg/day, 0.347 cm/week, and 0.38 cm/week, respectively). The albumin levels were significantly increased, but the BUN levels were not significantly increased in the intervention group. None of the patients developed necrotizing enterocolitis or significant acidosis.