Enhanced Nutrition for Preterm Infants

Enhanced Early Nutrition for Preterm Infants to Improve Neurodevelopment and Minimize Metabolic Risk

The overall objective of the proposal is to demonstrate the feasibility of providing increased calories and protein in the first week of life to very low birth weight (VLBW) preterm infants.

Infants will be randomized to receive either standard parenteral nutrition via the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) protocol or enhanced parenteral nutrition via the Study protocol during their first week of life through higher initial macronutrient provision and faster advancement of macronutrient provision.

Inclusion Criteria:

• VLBW (birth weight <1500grams) preterm (gestational age (GA) at birth < 32 weeks) infants admitted to the University of Minnesota Masonic Children's Hospital NICU, for which written informed consent can be secured from a parent within 12 hours of birth.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Infants who are diagnosed prenatally with a clinical condition (other than prematurity) that is known to affect growth rate, adiposity, or neurocognitive development, who experienced severe birth asphyxia, who are enrolled in another study affecting nutritional management, or who are likely to be transferred out of the NICU will be excluded from participation.