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

Study answer

What this study found

Higher protein intake probably improved early growth, especially weight gain, but the certainty of evidence was low to very low. Pooled results favored higher protein for weight gain by 2.36 g/kg/d, 95% CI 1.31 to 3.40, and for nitrogen accretion by 143.73 mg/kg/d, 95% CI 128.70 to 158.77. There was probably little to no difference in linear growth (MD 0.16 cm/week, 95% CI -0.02 to 0.34), and head growth was uncertain despite one pooled estimate favoring higher protein (MD 0.37 cm/week, 95% CI 0.16 to 0.58). Necrotizing enterocolitis was not clearly increased (RD 0.00, 95% CI -0.12 to 0.12),…

Study & population

Systematic review of randomized trials in hospitalized formula-fed preterm or low birth weight infants, including appropriate-for-gestational-age and small-for-gestational-age infants, during the initial neonatal hospital stay.

Intervention

Higher-protein formula feeding in formula-fed preterm or low birth weight infants during the initial hospital stay, compared with lower-protein formula.

Key limitation

Overall certainty was low to very low because of risk of bias, heterogeneity, and small numbers of studies and infants for several outcomes.

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Original abstract