Effect of Protein and Energy Supplementation on Growth of Infants ≤1,500 g at Birth: A Randomized Trial

Abstract

Objective: To study the effect of energy supplements with protein-energy supplementations on the growth patterns of low birth weight (LBW) infants weighing ≤1,500 g. Material and methods: Babies with birth weight of ≤1,500 g and on full enteral feeds on Day 14 of life with expressed breast milk (n = 60) were randomly allocated to energy alone group (n = 30) and protein-energy group (n = 30). Babies in energy intervention received medium-chain triglyceride and protein-energy intervention received human milk fortifier supplement added to expressed breast milk. Daily weight, weekly length and head circumference were checked to monitor the growth. Study was continued till the infants reached a weight of 1,600 g or 4 weeks from the start of the study, whichever was earlier. Results: In the energy group, mean weight gain was 14.98 ± 0.09968 g/kg/day, whereas in the protein-energy group weight gain was 19.79 ± 0.08745 g/kg/day (p < 0.001). Increase in length or head circumference did not show any statistical significance. Conclusion: This study was consistent with the importance of providing additional protein intake to achieve increased postnatal growth in LBW babies.