Optimizing Individual Nutrition in Preterm Very Low Birth Weight Infants

"Intake of macronutrients (protein, fat, and carbohydrate) will be individualized every day by adding one or more macronutrients to human milk based on daily measurements using near-infrared analysis.~In patients receiving less milk than 140 ml x kg-1 x day-1 fortification of human milk will be adjusted to reach at least the average concentrations of protein, fat, and carbohydrate in donor's milk (Wojcik. J Am Diet Assoc. 2009 Jan;109:137-40) and 20 cal/oz as provided by the Mother's Milk Bank of North Texas.~In those receiving at least 140 ml x kg-1 x day-1 of milk at 24 cal/oz fortification will be adjusted to meet recent guidelines from the the European Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition Committee on Nutrition (ESPGHAN) (Agostoni et al. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2010 Jan;50:85-91)."

Milk fortification will be based on current recommendations and optimized by adjustment of nutrients once a week based on blood levels of urea nitrogen (corrected for serum creatinine level) and albumin and velocity of growth (weight and length).