Effect of early introduction of minimal enteral feeding on growth and rate of achieving optimal nutritive intake in very low birth weight preterm infants

Introduction/Objective Minimal enteral nutrition (MEN) has an important stimulative effect on morphological and functional development of gastrointestinal system in preterm infants. The aim of this study was to assess effects of early introduced MEN on rate of achieving optimal enteral nutritive intake and on body weight, body length, and head circumference gain in very low birth weight (VLBW) premature infants. Methods This prospective study included 45 VLBW newborns (1,010-1,450; 1,350 +/- 305 g), in 30 newborns MEN was introduced within three days after birth, and in 15 newborns enteral intake was introduced after five days due to hemodynamic and metabolic instability. Assessment of effect of early MEN introduction on the rate of achieving optimal nutritive intake and gain in basic anthropometric parameters was based on comparison with a group of subjects who had a delayed MEN introduction. Results Subjects in which MEN was introduced early on had better weight gain (p < 0.05), reached birth weight sooner (p < 0.05), and achieved optimal enteral intake much sooner (p < 0.05), compared to subjects with delayed MEN introduction. The difference in body length gain and head circumference gain was not significant. Conclusion Early introduction of MEN has a significant positive effect on rate of body weight gain and on earlier achievement of optimal enteral intake in VLBW preterm infants.