Neonatal nutritional risk and pulmonary function

Abstract

Introduction: The neonatal period is a critical initial stage of postnatal lung development and maturation. This study aimed to investigate the effects of the nutritional status on pulmonary function in late preterm and full-term neonates. Methods: A total of 172 newborns were included in the study. Nutritional risk screening, weight measurement, assessment of albumin and caloric intake, and a pulmonary function examination were conducted on the 7th day after birth. Results: There was a significant correlation between the nutritional risk and changes in body weight. Tidal volume (VT), minute ventilation (MV), VT per kg body weight (VT/kg), and MV per kg body weight (MV/kg) in the low nutritional risk group were significantly higher than those in the medium nutritional risk group (all P < .05). Albumin and caloric intake in the low nutritional risk group were significantly higher than those in the medium nutritional risk group (both P < .01). VT, VT/kg, MV, and MV/kg in the weight loss group were lower than those in the no weight loss group (all P < .05). Conclusions: Changes in neonatal weight mainly affect lung volume (VT, VT/kg, MV, and MV/kg), suggesting that an improvement in the neonatal nutritional status is important for the development of lung volume.

Extrauterine growth restriction and low energy intake during the early neonatal period of very low birth weight infants are associated with decreased lung function in childhood

“…Respiratory pathologies derived from preterm birth, such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), are frequent in premature newborns and may subsequently affect the lung function of children and adults (3,4) . Various studies have highlighted the importance of nutritional status in the newborn and its relevance to lung development (5,6) . The effects of post-natal undernutrition on lung maturation have been characterised in animal models.…”