Nutritional practices in very low birth weight infants: a national survey

Background: Significant efforts have been made to improve the nutritional support of very preterm infants. Large surveys may help to know the nutritional practices for preterm infants in neonatal units and identify if they are in line with the current guidelines. Methods: A multicentre nationwide web-based survey on clinical feeding practices in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants was conducted in tertiary neonatal hospitals that admit infants with a birth weight < 1,500 g and/or a gestational age of < 32 weeks. Results: The questionnaire was completed by 53 units (response rate, 59%). Over 90% of the units surveyed start amino-acid administration immediately after birth and more than half use novel intravenous fish oil-based lipid emulsions. Enteral nutrition is started within 24 hours of birth in 65% of units and 86% of these are medium-sized or large. Feeding volumes are increased at a rate of 10-30 ml/kg/day in > 90% of units. Monitoring of serum phosphorus was measured more frequently than albumin (p = 0.009) or triglycerides (p = 0.037), but only 28% of centres regularly measure pre-albumin as a nutritional biomarker. Human milk fortification and iron supplementation, starting at four weeks of age, are almost universal. However, only 30% of units administer 800 IU/day of vitamin D. Nearly 50% of the units discharge infants on preterm formula. Conclusion: Most Spanish neonatology units use early amino-acid supplementation and over half use novel fish oil-based lipid emulsions. Post-discharge nutrition practices and vitamin administration vary greatly.