This is a longitudinal, observational study on nutrition, growth and body composition in preterm infants. Aims to determine the adequacy of actual nutrient intake during the preterm period by investigating associations between macronutrient supply, growth, and body composition at 34-weeks gestation, term equivalent and 2-month corrected gestational age.

Infants between 23 and 24 weeks gestation and with a birth weight of 500 to 1500 g are recruited to a longitudinal, observational study of nutrition, growth and body composition in Cork University Maternity Hospital, Ireland.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Babies with a birth weight ≤1.5kg and gestational age ≤34 weeks were considered eligible.

Exclusion Criteria:

• presence of congenital abnormalities or conditions that interfere with growth or body composition (congenital diseases, chromosomal abnormalities, chronic lung disease, cardiac or gastrointestinal diseases).

Preterm infants admitted to Cork University Maternity Hospital Neonatal Unit