Nutrition and Malnutrition in Neonates and Immature Infants

Abstract

In comparison with older children and adults, infants under 2-3 months of age are physiologically less well adapted to digest, absorb and metabolise certain nutrients. This may lead to clinical problems, which are most important in infants born before term. These problems are aggravated by the requirements for very rapid growth in the young infant. Particular difficulties may occur in the digestion and absorption of dietary energy, mainly due to problems of fat absorption, in Vitamin D and calcium nutrition, in the handling of protein and sodium, and occasionally in trace element nutrition. Human breast milk, though usually ideal for full-term babies, may be inadequate for some premature infants for reasons which are discussed. The nutritional problems of preterm infants are potentially very important because of the vulnerability of the immature organism to nutrient deficiency. Full term infants may also suffer from inadequate maternal milk production, the misguided use of cult diets or from ignorance about the correct composition and use of cow's milk formulas.