Enhanced nutrition improves growth and increases blood adiponectin concentrations in very low birth weight infants

Abstract

BackgroundAdequate nutrient supply is essential for optimal postnatal growth in very low birth weight (VLBW, birth weight<1,500 g) infants. Early growth may influence the risk of metabolic syndrome later in life.ObjectiveTo evaluate growth and blood metabolic markers (adiponectin, leptin, and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1)) in VLBW infants participating in a randomized nutritional intervention study.DesignFifty VLBW infants were randomized to an enhanced nutrient supply or a standard nutrient supply. Thirty-seven infants were evaluated with growth measurements until 2 years corrected age (CA). Metabolic markers were measured at birth and 5 months CA.ResultsWeight gain and head growth were different in the two groups from birth to 2 years CA (weight gain: pinteraction=0.006; head growth: pinteraction=0.002). The intervention group improved their growth z-scores after birth, whereas the control group had a pronounced decline, followed by an increase and caught up with the intervention group after discharge. At 5 months CA, adiponectin concentrations were higher in the intervention group and correlated with weight gain before term (r=0.35) and nutrient supply (0.35≤r≤0.45). Leptin concentrations correlated with weight gain after term and IGF-1 concentrations with length growth before and after term and head growth after term (0.36≤r≤0.53).ConclusionEnhanced nutrient supply improved early postnatal growth and may have prevented rapid catch-up growth later in infancy. Adiponectin concentration at 5 months CA was higher in the intervention group and correlated positively with early weight gain and nutrient supply. Early nutrition and growth may affect metabolic markers in infancy.Clinical Trial Registration (ClinicalTrials.gov) no.: NCT01103219

Nutritional Status in Adolescents with Esophageal Atresia

“…Esophageal atresia (EA) is a rare congenital malformation (1,2), with major therapeutic challenges and consequences for feeding both in infancy and childhood (1,(3)(4)(5). Known underlying mechanisms for the feeding difficulties include dysphagia expressed through swallowing disorders and esophageal dysmotility, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) (6)(7)(8)(9).…”

Infant cholesterol and glycated haemoglobin concentrations vary widely—Associations with breastfeeding, infant diet and maternal biomarkers

“…Circulating TC (primary endpoint) and HbA1c (secondary endpoint) were measured in DBS samples at an accredited medical laboratory (Vitas AS). This method has previously been used in infants and adults . The validity of TC measurements by the DBS method was tested in a young population of 13 men and women with familial hypercholesterolaemia and 18 normolipidemic controls .…”

Plasma Adipokines Profile in Prepubertal Children with a History of Prematurity or Extrauterine Growth Restriction

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