rss

This article has a correction

Please see: Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 2003;88:F448

Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 2003;88:F302-F307 doi:10.1136/fn.88.4.F302
  • Original article

Weaning preterm infants: a randomised controlled trial

  1. L D Marriott1,
  2. K D Foote2,
  3. J A Bishop1,
  4. A C Kimber3,
  5. J B Morgan1
  1. 1School of Biomedical and Life Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey GU2 7XH, UK
  2. 2Department Paediatrics and Child Health, Royal Hampshire County Hospital, Winchester, Hampshire SO22 5DG, UK
  3. 3School of Applied Statistics, University of Reading, PO Box 240, Reading, Berkshire RG6 6FN, UK
  1. Correspondence to:
    Dr Marriott, Medical Research Council Environmental Epidemiology Unit, Tremona Rd, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK;
    ldm{at}mrc.soton.ac.uk
  • Accepted 12 February 2003

Abstract

Objective: To assess the effect on growth and iron status in preterm infants of a specially devised weaning strategy compared with current best practices in infant feeding. The preterm weaning strategy recommended the early onset of weaning and the use of foods with a higher energy and protein content than standard milk formula, and foods that are rich sources of iron and zinc.

Subjects and design: In a blinded, controlled study, 68 preterm infants (mean (SD) birth weight 1470 (430) g and mean (SD) gestational age 31.3 (2.9) weeks) were randomised to either the preterm weaning strategy group (n = 37) or a current best practice control group (n = 31), from hospital discharge until 1 year gestation corrected age (GCA).

Main outcome measures: Weight, supine length, occipitofrontal head circumference, and intakes of energy, protein, and minerals were determined at 0, 6, and 12 months GCA. Levels of haemoglobin, serum iron, and serum ferritin were assayed at 0 and 6 months GCA.

Results: Significant positive effects of treatment included: greater increase in standard deviation length scores and length growth velocity; increased intake of energy, protein, and carbohydrate at 6 months GCA and iron at 12 months GCA; increased haemoglobin and serum iron levels at 6 months GCA.

Conclusions: The preterm weaning strategy significantly influenced dietary intakes with consequent beneficial effects on growth in length and iron status. This strategy should be adopted as the basis of feeding guidelines for preterm infants after hospital discharge.

Footnotes

    Responses to this article

    • Authors' reply to Dr Ahmed
      • Lynne Marriott,
      • KD Foote, JA Bishop, AC Kimber, JB Morgan
      Arch Dis Child - Fetal Neonatal Ed published online August 8, 2003
    • Preterm weaning strategy-is it beneficial in the longer term?
      • Mansoor Ahmed
      Arch Dis Child - Fetal Neonatal Ed published online July 9, 2003

    This Article

    1. Abstract
    2. Full text
    3. PDF
    4. A correction has been published

    Register for free content

    The full back archive is now available for all BMJ Journals. Institutional subscribers may access the entire archive as part of their subscription. Personal subscribers will also have access to all content when logged in. Non-subscribers who register have free access to all articles published before 2006 right back to volume 1 issue 1. Register here to access the free archive of all BMJ Journals.

    Don't forget to sign up for content alerts so you keep up to date with all the articles as they are published.