Early fortification of enteral feedings for infants <1250 grams birth weight receiving a human milk diet including human milk based fortifier
Huston, R.; Lee, M.; Rider, E.; Stawarz, M.; Hedstrom, D.; Pence, M.; Chan, V.; Chambers, J.; Rogers, S.; Sager, N.; Riemann, L.; Cohen, H.
Journal of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine 13(2): 215-221
2020
ISSN/ISBN: 1878-4429
PMID: 31707377
DOI: 10.3233/npm-190300
Accession: 069500517
An exclusive human milk diet (EHM) including fortification with a human milk-based fortifier has been shown to decrease the occurrence of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) but growth velocity may be less for infants receiving EHM compared to a bovine diet. The objective of this study was to determine if growth is improved by earlier fortification of breast milk for preterm infants supported with a human milk based fortifier. A multi-center retrospective cohort study of the outcomes of infants of 500- 1250 g birth weight whose breast milk feedings were fortified at >60 mL/kg/day (late) versus <60 mL/kg/day (early) of enteral feeding volume. Median±IQR range for gestational age (27.6±3.4 vs 27.0±2.9 weeks, p = 0.03) and chronic lung disease (CLD: 42.6 vs 27.6%, p = 0.008) were higher, and weight gain (12.9±2.6 vs 13.3±2.6 g/kg/day, p = 0.03) was lower in the late (N = 102) vs the early (N = 292) group. Adjusted multiple linear regression analysis found that early fortification was associated with improved growth velocity for weight (p = 0.007) and head circumference (HC) (p = 0.021) and less negative changes in z-scores for weight (p = 0.022) and HC (p = 0.046) from birth to discharge. Adjusted multiple logistic regression found that early fortification was associated with decreased occurrence of CLD (p = 0.004). No other outcomes, including NEC, were associated with early versus late fortification. The study results suggested that early HM fortification appears to positively affect growth for infants whose human milk feedings are fortified with a human milk based fortifier without adverse effects. The incidence of CLD was also reduced in the early fortification group.