Enriched formula not needed for premature infants

Enriched milk formula is no better than standard formula for feeding pre-term infants after hospital discharge. The following study challenges the current dogma on the use of special milk formulation for feeding the premature infants. Researchers from Wayne State University and Hutzel Hospital, Detroit, USA, compared the growth, bone mass, and body composition in 89 pre-term infants who were randomly assigned to receive a nutrient-enriched formula or a standard formula for one year after discharge. The infants fed the standard formula had significantly higher scores for all growth variables than did infants fed the enriched formula. The rates of weight gain and length increase were also significantly higher in the infants fed standard formula. The results of X-ray imaging studies also indicated that the standard formula group had significantly higher bone mineral content, fat mass and lean mass than did the enriched formula group. Previous clinical trials have been inconclusive despite the theoretical benefits of enriched formulation and the current study could not demonstrate any benefits from its use either in body weight, length, or different components of tissue growth, namely, the amount of bone, fat and lean tissue. The above findings raise multiple important issues that require further research. Hopefully, the continuing studies of nutrition support in premature infants will provide scientifically sound recommendations in the not too distant future. Meanwhile, the researchers conclude that careful follow-up of the infant, critical review of scientific studies, and being skeptical of advertisements would go a long way in providing good patient care.