Human Milk-A Valuable Tool in the Early Days of Life of Premature Infants.

The objective of early premature infant nutrition is to maintain, during the turbulent early days of life, a flow of nutrients that differs only minimally from that which would have prevailed had the infant remained . Out of necessity, nutrients have at first to be provided mainly via the parenteral route. While that is going on, the feeding of small amounts of human milk (gut priming) is initiated as soon as practical.

Infant milk-feeding practices and diabetes outcomes in offspring: a systematic review.

Background: During the Pregnancy and Birth to 24 Months Project, the US Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services initiated a review of evidence on diet and health in these populations.

Objectives: The aim of these systematic reviews was to examine the relation of 1) never versus ever feeding human milk, 2) shorter versus longer durations of any human milk feeding, 3) shorter versus longer durations of exclusive human milk feeding, and 4) feeding a lower versus higher intensity of human milk to mixed-fed infants with type 1 and type 2 diabetes in offspring.

Methods: The Nutrition Evidence Systematic Review team conducted systematic reviews with external experts.

Infant milk-feeding practices and diagnosed celiac disease and inflammatory bowel disease in offspring: a systematic review.

Background: During the Pregnancy and Birth to 24 Months Project, the USDA and US Department of Health and Human Services initiated an evidence review on diet and health in these populations.

Objective: The aim of these systematic reviews was to examine the relationships of never versus ever feeding human milk, shorter versus longer durations of any and exclusive human milk feeding, and feeding a lower versus a higher intensity of human milk to mixed-fed infants with diagnosed celiac disease and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Methods: The Nutrition Evidence Systematic Review team (formerly called the Nutrition Evidence Library) conducted systematic reviews with external experts.

Infant milk-feeding practices and cardiovascular disease outcomes in offspring: a systematic review.

Background: During the Pregnancy and Birth to 24 Months Project, the US Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services initiated a review of evidence on diet and health in these populations.

Objectives: The aim of these systematic reviews was to examine the relation of 1) never versus ever feeding human milk, 2) shorter versus longer durations of any human milk feeding, 3) shorter versus longer durations of exclusive human milk feeding, and 4) lower versus higher intensities of human milk fed to mixed-fed infants with intermediate and endpoint cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes in offspring.

Methods: The Nutrition Evidence Systematic Review team conducted systematic reviews with external experts.

Infant milk-feeding practices and childhood leukemia: a systematic review.

Background: During the Pregnancy and Birth to 24 Months Project, the US Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services initiated a review of evidence on diet and health in these populations.

Objectives: The aim of these systematic reviews was to examine the relation of 1) never versus ever feeding human milk, 2) shorter versus longer durations of any human milk feeding, 3) shorter versus longer durations of exclusive human milk feeding, and 4) feeding a lower versus higher intensity of human milk to mixed-fed infants with acute childhood leukemia, generally, and acute lymphoblastic leukemia, specifically.

Methods: The Nutrition Evidence Systematic Review team conducted systematic reviews with external experts.

Infant milk-feeding practices and food allergies, allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, and asthma throughout the life span: a systematic review.

Background: During the Pregnancy and Birth to 24 Months Project, the USDA and Department of Health and Human Services initiated a review of evidence on diet and health in these populations.

Objectives: The aim of these systematic reviews was to examine the relation of 1) never versus ever feeding human milk, 2) shorter versus longer durations of any human milk feeding, 3) shorter versus longer durations of exclusive human milk feeding prior to infant formula introduction, 4) feeding a lower versus higher intensity of human milk to mixed-fed infants, and 5) feeding a higher intensity of human milk by bottle versus breast with food allergies, allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, and asthma.

Methods: The Nutrition Evidence Systematic Review team conducted systematic reviews with external experts.

Lack of Effect of Graded Doses of Vitamin D on Bone Metabolism of Breastfed Infants.

Objective: A range of doses of supplemental vitamin D has been shown to be effective in preventing rickets in breastfed infants, but the effect of different doses of vitamin D on bone metabolism and mineral content has not been delineated.

Methods: In a randomized trial, breastfed infants received from 2 to 9 months daily supplements of vitamin D in doses of 200 IU/d, 400 IU/d, 600 IU/d or 800 IU/d. Measures of bone metabolism (plasma) were determined periodically and bone mineral content (DXA) was determined at study entry and at the end of winter when infants were 5.

Calcium and Vitamin D Supplementation in Boys with Risperidone-Induced Hyperprolactinemia: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study.

Background: The chronic use of antipsychotics has been associated with impaired bone mineralization, partially mediated by hyperprolactinemia. We examined if calcium and vitamin D supplementation promote bone mineral accrual in boys with risperidone-induced hyperprolactinemia.

Methods: Between February 2009 and November 2013, medically healthy, 5- to 17-year-old boys were enrolled in a 36-week double-blind, placebo-controlled study, examining the skeletal effects of supplementation with 1250 mg calcium carbonate and 400 IU of vitamin D3 in risperidone-induced hyperprolactinemia.

Preterm Infant Growth Velocity Calculations: A Systematic Review.

Context: Clinicians assess the growth of preterm infants and compare growth velocity using a variety of methods.

Objective: We determined the numerical methods used to describe weight, length, and head circumference growth velocity in preterm infants; these methods include grams/kilogram/day (g/kg/d), grams/day (g/d), centimeters/week (cm/week), and change in scores.

Data Sources: A search was conducted in April 2015 of the Medline database by using PubMed for studies that measured growth as a main outcome in preterm neonates between birth and hospital discharge and/or 40 weeks' postmenstrual age.

The Use of Multinutrient Human Milk Fortifiers in Preterm Infants: A Systematic Review of Unanswered Questions.

There is evidence that multinutrient fortification of human milk increases in-hospital growth of preterm infants, but fortification has not been shown to improve long-term growth and neurodevelopmental outcome. We aimed to ascertain whether randomized controlled trials have determined the effect of early versus late introduction of fortifiers on growth and/or other outcomes, and have compared the efficacy/adverse effects of human milk-based versus cow milk-based fortifiers. We conclude that there is little evidence that early introduction of human milk fortification affects important outcomes, and limited evidence that a bovine fortifier places the infant at a higher risk of NEC.

Human Milk Banking.

Human milk banks play an essential role by providing human milk to infants who would otherwise not be able to receive human milk. The largest group of recipients are premature infants who derive very substantial benefits from it. Human milk protects premature infants from necrotizing enterocolitis and from sepsis, two devastating medical conditions.

Protein Needs of Preterm Infants: Why Are They So Difficult to Meet?

Because of their exceedingly high rate of growth, premature infants have very high needs for all nutrients. Requirements have been estimated by the factorial method based on the body composition of the fetus. Failure to meet the high requirements for protein impairs growth and places the infant at risk of neurodevelopmental impairments.

Serum Ferritin, Weight Gain, Disruptive Behavior, and Extrapyramidal Symptoms in Risperidone-Treated Youth.

Background: Iron deficiency disrupts dopaminergic signaling in rodents, resulting in cognitive deficits that may be reversed with psychostimulants. In humans, iron deficiency with or without anemia has similarly been found to cause neuropsychological and behavioral impairments. However, the clinical effects of low body iron stores in antipsychotic-treated children have not been examined.

Iron homeostasis during risperidone treatment in children and adolescents.

Objective: Previous cross-sectional evidence has linked antipsychotic-related weight gain to reduced body iron concentration. Using longitudinal data, we examined the association between changes in weight following risperidone initiation or discontinuation and ferritin concentration.

Method: Study 1: Between April 2004 and September 2007, participants were enrolled from outpatient settings in a prospective randomized clinical trial comparing the efficacy of risperidone monotherapy to the combination of risperidone and behavior therapy in targeting disruptive behavior in 4- to 13-year-old children with DSM-IV-TR-based autism spectrum disorder.

Adequacy of Infant Formula With Protein Content of 1.6 g/100 kcal for Infants Between 3 and 12 Months.

Objectives: Infant formulas provide more protein than breast milk. High protein intakes may place infants at risk of later obesity. The present study tested whether a formula with protein content below the regulatory level supports normal growth from age 3 months.

Nutrient Needs for Catch-Up Growth in Low-Birthweight Infants.

Growth restriction among low-birthweight (LBW) infants occurs prenatally as well as postnatally. Regardless of when and how the growth restriction occurs, growth-restricted infants have the potential for catch-up growth. Catch-up growth has decidedly beneficial effects on later cognition.

Fast growth of infants of overweight mothers: can it be slowed down?

Data from 3 recently completed studies were pooled and analyzed to answer the question whether breastfed infants of overweight/obese mothers show accelerated growth. It was shown that these infants gain weight faster than indicated by the WHO standards and that they grow significantly faster than infants of lean mothers. The question whether fast infant growth can be slowed down by lowering the protein content of formulas was examined.

Vitamin D supplementation of breastfed infants: a randomized dose-response trial.

Background: Breastfed infants require supplementation with vitamin D (vD), but little is known about the necessary dose. This double blind trial evaluated four different doses of vD.

Methods: Exclusively breastfed infants (N = 213) were randomized at 1 mo to one of four doses, which they received through 9 mo while receiving no formula.

Iron stores of breastfed infants during the first year of life.

The birth iron endowment provides iron for growth in the first months of life. We describe the iron endowment under conditions of low dietary iron supply. Subjects were infants participating in a trial of Vitamin D supplementation from 1 to 9 months.