Higher versus lower protein intake in formula-fed low birth weight infants.

Study answer

What this study found

Higher formula protein intake generally improved short-term growth and nitrogen retention. Across individual trials, weight gain was higher with higher protein, including 20.3 vs 18.9 g/kg/day in Bhatia 1991, 17.4 vs 12.9 g/kg/day in Hillman 1994, 18.3 vs 13.9 g/kg/day in Kashyap 1986, 16.45 vs 11.54 g/kg/day in Wauben 1995, and 23.1±7 vs 16.7±6 g/kg/day in the Cooke 2006 crossover study. Higher protein also increased nitrogen accretion in Kashyap 1986 (422.2 vs 270 mg/kg/day) and was associated with higher blood urea nitrogen in some studies, such as 9.85 vs 7.62 mg/dL in Bhatia 1991 and…

Study & population

Systematic review/meta-analysis of formula-fed hospitalized neonates weighing less than 2.5 kg at birth, including preterm and low birth weight infants who were appropriate-for-gestational-age or small-for-gestational-age.

Intervention

Formula protein intake was compared across randomized/controlled studies in hospitalized preterm or low birth weight infants during the initial hospital stay.

Key limitation

The evidence base was small, with several trials enrolling few infants and using different protein doses, formulas, and outcome definitions.

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Original abstract