Fat supplementation of human milk for promoting growth in preterm infants.

Study answer

What this study found

Overall, there is insufficient high-quality evidence to support routine fat supplementation of human milk for preterm infants. One small trial found no clear improvement in short-term growth: weight gain was MD 0.6 g/kg/day, 95% CI -2.4 to 3.6; length gain was MD 0.1 cm/week, 95% CI -0.08 to 0.3; and head circumference gain was MD 0.2 cm/week, 95% CI -0.07 to 0.4. Feeding intolerance was also not clearly increased, with RR 3.00, 95% CI 0.1 to 64.3. No long-term neurodevelopmental or cardio-metabolic outcomes were reported, and the evidence was rated very low quality with wide uncertainty.

Study & population

Systematic review of randomized evidence in preterm infants fed human milk in hospital.

Intervention

Human milk was supplemented enterally with 1 gram human milk fat per 100 mL of human milk.

Key limitation

Evidence was based on a single very small trial, with only 14 to 16 infants contributing to the reported outcomes.

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Original abstract