Early infancy growth, body composition and type of feeding in late and moderate preterms.

Background: Late and moderate preterm (LMPT) infants are at risk for adverse later life outcomes. We determined the association between feeding method at enrolment and growth and body composition of LMPT infants until 3 months corrected age (3mCA).

Methods: Infants born between 32 and 36 weeks of gestation (n = 107) were enrolled up to 4 weeks corrected age and stratified according to feeding at enrolment.

An Observational Cohort Study and Nested Randomized Controlled Trial on Nutrition and Growth Outcomes in Moderate and Late Preterm Infants (FLAMINGO).

Over the past decades, the preterm birth rate has increased, mostly due to a rise in late and moderate preterm (LMPT, 32-36 weeks gestation) births. LMPT birth affects 6-7% of all births in the United Kingdom and is associated with increased morbidity risk after birth in infancy as well as in adulthood. Early life nutrition has a critical role in determining infant growth and development, but there are limited data specifically addressing LMPT infants, which was the rationale for the design of the current study.