Affiliation:
1. Comprehensive Center for Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Division of Neonatology, Intensive Care and Neuropediatrics, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
2. Radboud University Medical Center, Radboud University Nijmegen, 6525 Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Abstract
(1) If mother´s own milk (MOM) is not available, pooled term human donor milk (HDM) is commonly used. Compared to MOM, term HDM contains less protein and fat and is associated with impaired growth. HDM from mothers of preterm infants is an alternative source and contains higher protein levels compared to term HDM, but the impacts on growth and body composition are unclear. (2) Methods: Infants born below 32 weeks of gestation and below 1500 g between 2017–2022, who underwent air displacement plethysmography (Pea Pod®) to determine body composition (FFM: fat-free mass; FM: fat mass) at term-equivalent age, were included. A comparison between infants fed with MOM > 50% (MOM-group) and single preterm HDM > 50% (HDM-group) was conducted. (3) Results: In total, 351 infants (MOM-group: n = 206; HDM-group: n = 145) were included for the analysis. The median FFM-Z-score (MOM-group: −1.09; IQR: −2.02, 1.11; HDM-group: −1.13; IQR: −2.03, 1.12; p = 0.96), FM-Z-score (MOM-group: 1.06; IQR: −0.08, 2.22; HDM-group: 1.19; IQR: −0.14, 2.20; p = 0.09), and median growth velocity (MOM-group: 23.1 g/kg/d; IQR: 20.7, 26.0; HDM: 22.5 g/kg/d; IQR: 19.7, 25.8; p = 0.15) values were not significantly different between the groups. (4) Conclusion: Single preterm HDM is a good alternative to support normal growth and body composition.
Subject
Food Science,Nutrition and Dietetics