DIETARY PROTEIN FOR LOW BIRTHWEIGHT BABIES Sources and Assessment of Requirements

Abstract

Wharton BA, Scott PH and Berger HM (Sorrento Maternity Hospital, and Biochemistry Department, Selly Oak Hospital, Birmingham, U.K.). Dietary protein for low birthweight babies. Sources and assessment of requirements. Acta Paediatr Scand, Suppl. 296:32, 1982. — Breastmilk is the best food for low birthweight babies for the first critical week(s) of life. In subsequent weeks, during rapid growth, formulas specially designed for this group of infants may be superior to ordinary breast milk substitutes. Modifications comprise the composition of carbohydrates, fats and proteins. Requirements of minerals and vitamins are probably different from those in babies with normal birthweights, A controlled study was done of feeding a formula containing unmodified cow's milk protein (mainly curd) as compared to one containing the same amount of modified cow's milk protein (curd and whey). Using as criteria anthropometry, nitrogen balance studies and plasma amino acid levels certain advantages were found when feeding the low birthweight babies the whey predominant formula.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the nutrient content of preterm and term breast milk

“…Attempts were made to contact authors of nine studies, we received replies from four, but no additional information was received for the meta-analyses. Ninety-nine studies were excluded for reasons provided in Figure 1 : no original data/review articles [ 25 - 39 ], studies performed in developing countries [ 40 - 48 ], no numerical results [ 49 - 59 ], not 24-hour milk collection/pooled milk (required only for energy and fat contents) [ 7 - 9 , 60 - 70 ], no report of macro/micronutrient contents [ 36 , 71 - 107 ], did not report time frames used in the meta-analyses [ 108 - 116 ], other [ 117 , 118 ]. Energy was estimated in 11 studies using bomb calorimetry [ 11 , 12 , 18 , 119 - 126 ] and in five studies by calculation using values for the energy contributions from fat, protein, and carbohydrate [ 6 , 19 , 22 , 121 , 127 ].…”