Breast milk at least as good as formula for premature babies
or greater than those fed formula specially designed for
low-birth-weight infants, reports a team of international
researchers.
Premature infants fed breast milk developed as well as or better than those fed formula specially designed for low-birth-weight infants, reports a team of international researchers.
While the study confirmed previous findings that premature infants grow more slowly on human milk than on nutrient-enriched premature formula, the study found that breast milk could promote better development," said Deborah O'Connor, lead author and University of Toronto's nutritional science professor.
The development of premature babies fed human milk fortified in-hospital at least until term-corrected age (the day they should have been born) was comparable to or better than that of premature babies fed premature infant formula. This development was especially true in areas such as visual acuity, although further study is needed to confirm this, said O'Connor.
"Growth is one yardstick of a premature baby's progress but developmental markers such as visual, motor and cognitive skills are also important," she added.
The study by Canadian, US, UK and Chilean researchers, compared the growth and development of 463 premature infants under four pounds at birth in the US, the UK and Chile. Based on their hospitals' existing practices, the infants were fed either breast milk (which was pumped, then mixed with additional nutrients in-hospital) or nutrient-enriched formulas or a combination of the two. After hospital discharge, most of the infants received unfortified breast milk. Their progress was tracked until they reached the equivalent of 12 to 14 months.
"Definitely, appropriately fortified breast milk is the feeding of choice for these premature, low-birth-weight babies,"said the authors, writing in this month's Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has advised since 1998 that fortified breast milk is appropriate for premature babies in hospital, said O'Connor. She believes it may also benefit them after hospital discharge.
The data analysed in this study was collected as part of an earlier trial funded by Abbott Laboratories.
