Protein Intakes during Weaning from Parenteral Nutrition Drive Growth Gain and Body Composition in Very Low Birth Weight Preterm Infants

Abstract

Weaning from parenteral to enteral nutrition is a critical period to maintain an adequate growth in very low birth weight preterm infants (VLBWI). We evaluated the actual daily nutritional intakes during the transition phase (TP) in VLBWI with adequate and inadequate weight growth velocity (GV ≥ 15 vs. GV 50%) (M-PNI) and main enteral nutritional intakes period (enteral nutritional intakes >50%) (M-ENI). Anthropometric measurements were assessed at discharge and TCA, FFM deposition at TCA. During M-PNI, G2 showed higher enteral protein intake compared to G1 (p = 0.05). During M-ENI, G2 showed higher parenteral protein (p = 0.01) and energy intakes (p p = 0.04). The reasoned use of SPB could guarantee an adequate protein administration, allowing an adequate growth and higher FFM deposition.

Keywords

• parenteral nutrition weaning
• very low birth weight
• preterm infants
• standardized parenteral nutrition bag
• growth velocity
• body composition