Bovine colostrum as a fortifier to human milk in very preterm infants - A randomized controlled trial (FortiColos).

Background: Human milk for very preterm infants need fortification for optimal growth and development but the optimal fortification product remains to be identified.

Aims: To investigate feasibility, safety and preliminary efficacy on growth and blood biochemistry when using intact bovine colostrum (BC) as a fortifier to human milk in very preterm infants.

Methods: In an open-label, multicenter, randomized controlled pilot trial (infants 26-31 weeks' gestation), mother's own milk or donor human milk was fortified with powdered BC (n = 115) or a conventional fortifier (CF, bovine-milk-based, n = 117) until 35 weeks' postmenstrual age.

A Randomized, Controlled Study to Investigate How Bovine Colostrum Fortification of Human Milk Affects Bowel Habits in Preterm Infants (FortiColos Study).

Background: Human milk does not meet the nutritional needs to support optimal growth of very preterm infants during the first weeks of life. Nutrient fortifiers are therefore added to human milk, though these products are suspected to increase gut dysmotility. The objective was to evaluate whether fortification with bovine colostrum (BC) improves bowel habits compared to a conventional fortifier (CF) in very preterm infants.