The role of nutrient supplements for preterm infants

< Back to Nutrition

Authors

Lapillonne A, Koletzko B, Fewtrell MS, Embleton ND, Jonat S, van Goudoever JB, Gruszfeld D, McNulty A, Szitanyi P

Target group

Preterm infants and parents

User group

Healthcare professionals, neonatal units, hospitals, and health services

Statement of standard

Preterm infants are given supplements to reduce nutritional deficits.

Rationale

Fortified human milk and preterm formulas in adequate volume meet most nutrient requirements even of very preterm infants. (1) However, the intake of some macro- or micronutrients is often inadequate. (2,3) This may result from both the specific medical condition and poor nutritional intake. A variety of dietary supplements can bridge the gap between achieved nutrient provision and calculated requirements. Extremely preterm infants can have specific protein needs above those provided by fortified human milk or preterm formula and may require a modular protein supplement. (4) Preterm infants with a high energy expenditure due to ongoing disease (e.g. bronchopulmonary dysplasia or heart failure) may require added energy supplements. (5)

Fat soluble vitamins, iron, zinc and sodium are supplements widely used during hospitalisation. (5) Vitamin supplements may be appropriate for infants on low daily volume of fortified milk or preterm formula. Total vitamin D intake is usually suboptimal even with adequate feeding, and vitamin D supplements are generally provided to all preterm infants. (6) Infants with severe cholestasis require additional fat soluble vitamins. (7) Iron may be needed in amounts >2 mg/kg as often provided by fortified human milk or preterm formula, especially in extremely preterm infants and in those receiving erythropoietin therapy. (8) Other possible supplements that may be needed include calcium, phosphorus, potassium (high urinary losses with diuretic therapy), sodium (high urinary losses in preterm infants) and zinc (enterostomy losses).

Supplements are generally started when full enteral feeding is achieved and continued after discharge as needed. (9) Surveillance of blood markers may be required based on an individual assessment. (10)

Benefits

Short-term benefits

Reduced risk of nutrient deficits (1)

Long-term benefits

Reduced risk of long-term sequelae of early nutritional deficit (e.g. growth faltering, anaemia, rickets) (1)

Components of the standard

Component

Grading of evidence

Indicator of meeting the standard

For parents and family

Parents are informed by healthcare professionals about the importance of providing supplements to prevent nutritional deficits.

B (High quality)

Patient information sheet^1*

Parents are informed by healthcare professionals about the importance of continuing the supplements when their infant is discharged home.

B (High quality)

Patient information sheet^1*

For healthcare professionals

A unit guideline on infant nutrition, including screening for selective deficits and their management during the inpatient and outpatient periods, is adhered to by all healthcare professionals.

B (High quality)

Guideline

Training on infant nutrition, including screening for selective deficits and their management during the inpatient and outpatient periods, is attended by all responsible healthcare professionals.

B (High quality)

Training documentation

Selective nutritional deficits that may occur in preterm infants are screened for and the appropriate prescriptions are given. (9)

A (Moderate quality)

Audit report²

For neonatal unit

A unit guideline on infant nutrition, including screening for selective deficits and their management during the inpatient and outpatient periods, is available and regularly updated.

B (High quality)

Guideline

For hospital

Training on infant nutrition, including screening for selective deficits and their management during the inpatient and outpatient periods is ensured.

B (High quality)

Training documentation

Supplements are made available for use.

B (High quality)

Audit report²

For health service

A national guideline on infant nutrition, including screening for selective deficits and their management during the inpatient and outpatient periods is available and regularly updated.

B (High quality)

Guideline

Supplements for outpatient care are made available and reimbursed.

B (Moderate quality)

Guideline

¹The indicator ‘patient information sheet’ is an example for written, detailed information, in which digital solutions are included, such as web-based systems, apps, brochures, information leaflets, and booklets.

²The indicator ‘audit report” can also be defined as a benchmarking report.

^*The TEG Nutrition very much supports the need of good communication with families and regular sharing of key information, but it is not in favour of sharing information on each standard by a “parent information sheet”, which is the term chosen by the Chair Committee. In our view, sharing multiple parent information sheets bears the risk of overloading families with a plethora of written information during a stressful time period, which may not be very helpful. We suggest to consider other means of sharing information.

Where to go

Further development

Grading of evidence

For parents and family

N/A

For healthcare professionals

N/A

For neonatal unit

N/A

For hospital

N/A

For health service

Support the development of supplements specifically designed for preterm infants.

B (Moderate quality)

Getting started

Initial steps

For parents and family

Parents are verbally informed about the importance of providing supplements by healthcare professionals.
At the time of discharge parents receive guidance and a prescription for providing supplements.

For healthcare professionals

Attend training on infant nutrition, including selective nutritional deficits in preterm infants, and how to assess and manage them.

For neonatal unit

Develop and implement a unit guideline on infant nutrition, including screening for selective deficits and their management during the inpatient and outpatient periods.
Develop information material on the importance of providing supplements for parents.

For hospital

Support healthcare professionals to participate in training on infant nutrition, including selective nutritional deficits in preterm infants, and how to assess and manage them.

For health service

Develop and implement a national guideline on infant nutrition, including screening for selective deficits and their management during the inpatient and outpatient periods.

Koletzko B, Poindexter B, Uauy R, editors. Nutritional care of preterm infants: scientific basis and practical guidelines. Basel: Karger; 2014. 314 p. (World review of nutrition and dietetics).
Khorana M, Jiamsajjamongkhon C. Pilot study on growth parameters and nutritional biochemical markers in very low birth weight preterm infants fed human milk fortified with either human milk fortifier or post discharge formula. J Med Assoc Thail Chotmaihet Thangphaet. 2014 Jun;97 Suppl 6:S164-175.
Harding JE, Cormack BE, Alexander T, Alsweiler JM, Bloomfield FH. Advances in nutrition of the newborn infant. Lancet Lond Engl. 2017 22;389(10079):1660–8.
Arnold M, Adamkin D, Radmacher P. Improving fortification with weekly analysis of human milk for VLBW infants. J Perinatol Off J Calif Perinat Assoc. 2017 Feb;37(2):194–6.
Groh-Wargo S, Sapsford A. Enteral nutrition support of the preterm infant in the neonatal intensive care unit. Nutr Clin Pract Off Publ Am Soc Parenter Enter Nutr. 2009 Jul;24(3):363–76.
Salle BL, Delvin EE, Lapillonne A, Bishop NJ, Glorieux FH. Perinatal metabolism of vitamin D. Am J Clin Nutr. 2000;71(5 Suppl):1317S–24S.
Mihatsch WA, Braegger C, Bronsky J, Campoy C, Domellöf M, Fewtrell M, et al. Prevention of Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding in Newborn Infants: A Position Paper by the ESPGHAN Committee on Nutrition. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2016 Jul;63(1):123–129.
Becquet O, Guyot D, Kuo P, Pawlotsky F, Besnard M, Papouin M, et al. Respective effects of phlebotomy losses and erythropoietin treatment on the need for blood transfusion in very premature infants. BMC Pediatr. 2013 Oct 28;13:176.
Lapillonne A, O’Connor DL, Wang D, Rigo J. Nutritional recommendations for the late-preterm infant and the preterm infant after hospital discharge. J Pediatr. 2013 Mar;162(3 Suppl):S90-100.
Moyer-Mileur LJ. Anthropometric and laboratory assessment of very low birth weight infants: the most helpful measurements and why. Semin Perinatol. 2007 Apr;31(2):96–103.