Randomized trial of enteral protein and energy supplementation in infants less than or equal to 1250 g at birth.

Objective: To determine if enteral protein and energy supplementation would significantly improve weight gain as compared with energy supplementation alone in
Study Design: Inclusion criteria were birth weight (BW) or=14 days, diet of >or=75% enteral nutrition (fortified human milk or formula) and either failure to regain BW or weight gain<15 g kg(-1) per days. Infants were randomized to a multinutrient supplement that provided increased protein and energy (P/E) intake or energy alone (medium chain triglyceride oil, MCT).

Umbilical venous catheterization and the risk of portal vein thrombosis.

Portal vein thrombosis has been associated with umbilical venous catheterization. We studied the incidence of portal vein thrombosis associated with umbilical venous catheterization with the catheter tip not in the portal venous system. Appropriate placement of an umbilical venous catheter in sick neonates is associated with a low risk of portal vein thrombosis (actual incidence, 1.

Iron absorption and incorporation into red blood cells by very low birth weight infants: studies with the stable isotope 58Fe.

Measurements of iron absorption and incorporation into RBCs were obtained with the stable isotope 58Fe, administered as a reference dose, in 11 premature infants with birth weights between 780 and 1,520 g and gestational ages between 24 and 33 weeks. Each study included a timed stool and urine collection, nasogastric tube administration of a single dose of about 228 micrograms of 58Fe/kg of body weight (as FeSO4, with 10 mg/kg of vitamin C) between feedings, and blood samples before 58Fe (day 1) and then 2 weeks (day 15) later. Gastrointestinal absorption of the 58Fe dose as measured by fecal isotope balance was 41.

Selenium absorption and retention by very-low-birth-weight infants: studies with the extrinsic stable isotope tag 74Se.

Measurements of dietary selenium absorption and retention were obtained after administration of a single dose of the extrinsic stable isotope tag 74Se in 20 appropriate for gestational age premature infants with birth weights between 720 and 1,630 g and gestational ages between 26 and 33 weeks. Infants were assigned randomly to receive a standard premature formula (1.34 microgram of Se/dl) or a selenium-supplemented version of that formula (2.