Randomized Trial of Early Diet in Preterm Babies and Later Intelligence Quotient

Abstract

Abstract The early brain critical growth spurt in preterm infants may be affected by early feeding composition. This trial evaluated the impact of nutrient-enriched preterm formula during the first 4 weeks of life on childhood developmental outcomes. This study was a parallel-group RCT, with randomization stratified by maternal preference for breast milk, and then further stratified by birth weight (<1200 g, ≥1200 g). There was no difference in the primary outcome of overall intelligence quotient (IQ) scores at 7.5 to 8 years between children who had received preterm compared with standard formula, whether as their sole diet (2.2 point advantage; 95% CI –2.7 to 7.0) or as a supplement to mother’s milk (1.0; 95% CI –3.0 to 5.0). Some advantages were suggested for secondary outcomes and subgroup analyses, especially with respect to verbal IQ scores, male infants, and infants for whom preterm formula comprised ≥50% of early diet.