Effect of olive oil massage on weight gain in preterm infants: A randomized controlled clinical trial

Abstract

Background:Despite the fact that effect of massage with or without oil on the baby's weight gain is not clear, but recent studies have shown that massage with essential oils make lipid absorption through the skin. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of olive oil massage on weight gain in preterm infants.Materials and Methods:This study was a single-blind, randomized controlled clinical trial. In this study, infants who met inclusion criteria for the study were divided into two groups by using random numbers table. Newborns in intervention group were under massage for 10 days and 3 times for 15 min daily; the mother of these newborns had been trained already using olive oil. Moreover, the infants of the control group were under massaging without oil same as the above-mentioned method. Researchers weighed babies daily during 10 days and recorded it at the checklist. Data from the study were reviewed and analyzed by descriptive statistics and repeated measure test using the statistical software SPSS/13.Results:This study showed that the neonatal weight gain in the infants with the oil massage was 21 g daily in average, whereas the increase in infant massage without oil was 7 g. This difference was statistically significant (P < 0.001).Conclusion:Considering the positive effect of infant massage on weight gain in premature infants with olive oil, it is recommended that nurses use oil in infant massage in the neonatal units.

Impact of emollient therapy for preterm infants in the neonatal period on child neurodevelopment in Bangladesh: an observational cohort study

“…Limited evidence suggests that benefits of emollient therapy extend beyond those due to massage alone. One study comparing massage with SSO to massage without oil and to no massage showed that weight gain in the SSO massage group was higher compared to the massage only and the no massage groups [ 37 , 51 ], suggesting that absorption and metabolism of the oil contributed to weight gain [ 50 , 52 , 53 ]. However, there was little statistical difference in the Brazelton Neonatal Behavior Assessment Scales post intervention [ 37 ].…”

“…Oil massage of newborn infants-combining massage with applications of a variety of emollients, particularly natural vegetable oils-is a traditional domiciliary practice utilized in many parts of the world, especially countries in the Mediterranean region, South Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa, with a growing literature on use of this approach to promote newborn and child health [29,[33][34][35][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53][54][55]. Topical applications of emollients for hospitalized, very preterm infants in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) have reduced neonatal mortality 27% [relative risk (RR): 0.73, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.56, 0.94)] and hospital-acquired bloodstream infection by 50% (RR 0.50, 95% CI 0.36, 0.71), and resulted in significant increases in weight (g) [mean difference (MD): 98.04, 95% CI 42.64,153.45] and weight gain (g/kg/day) (MD 1.57, 95% CI 0.79, 2.36) during the neonatal period compared to control infants [34,35,[46][47][48].…”

Acute Effects of Transdermal Administration of Jojoba Oil on Lipid Metabolism in Mice

“…To date, several studies have examined the effects of vegetable oils, in the presence or absence of massage, on neonates, and reported that neonatal growth is promoted through oil massages [34,35,36,37]. Although the mechanisms of action are yet unclear, triglycerides and fatty acids are suggested to be significantly elevated upon topical application of vegetable oils, which may potentially serve as a nutrient source and, hence, promote neonatal growth.…”

Effectiveness of the application of massage therapy and kinesitherapy by parents on premature neonates: A research protocol

“…There is sufficient scientific evidence to support the application of somatic stimulation in preterm infants during hospitalization (Diego et al, 2007;Fallah et al, 2013;Guzzetta et al, 2009;Jabraeile et al, 2016;Massaro et al, 2009), owing to its benefits on multiple aspects associated with prematurity: Increase in weight and size (Diego et al, 2007;Field et al, 2008;Jabraeile et al, 2016;Kumar et al, 2013;Massaro et al, 2009;Niemi, 2017) and facilitation of psychomotor development and brain maturation (Fucile & Gisel, 2010;Guzzetta el al., 2011;Ho et al, 2010;Lai et al, 2016;Procianoy, Mendes, & Silveira, 2010;Stefana et al, 2018) However, there are many hospitals that have not incorporated somatic stimulation in the care given to preterm infants.…”

“…Most research on somatic and kinaesthetic stimulation for hospitalized preterm neonates agrees in its pointing out a benefit in relation to factors linked to the growth of preterm infants (Diego et al, 2007;Field et al, 2008;Gonzalez et al, 2009;Jabraeile, Rasooly, Farshi, & Malakouti, 2016;Kumar et al, 2013;Massaro, Hammad, Jazzo, & Aly, 2009;Niemi, 2017;Saeadi, Ghorbani, Moghaddam 2015). In some cases, a weight increase has been found by the end of the implementation of the massage protocol and/or at the time of discharge (Diego et al, 2007;Guzzetta et al, 2009;Jabraeile et al, 2016;Massaro et al, 2009) and in other cases benefits have been found at 1 or 2 months of age (Akhavan, Golestan, Fallah, Golshan, & Dehghan, 2013;Arora, Kumar, & Ramji, 2005;Fallah, Karbasi, Golestan, & Fromandi, 2013).…”