Growth and bone mineralization in preterm infants fed preterm formula or standard term formula after discharge.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate growth and bone mineralization in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants fed preterm formula (PF) or term formula (TF).

STUDY DESIGN: In a double-blind prospective study, 49 preterm infants of gestational age 33 weeks or less were randomly fed PF or TF for 2 months after discharge, then all of the infants were fed TF for the next 2 months. Anthropometric and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry data were collected at discharge and at 2 months and 4 months after discharge. Anthropometric data also were collected at 12 months postterm.

RESULTS: Four months after discharge, both body weight (6139 +/- 1254 g vs 5540 +/- 863 g; P = .03) and bone mineral content (104.4 +/- 29.2 g vs 87.5 +/- 17.1 g; P = .01) were significantly higher in the PF group compared with the TF group. At 12 months postterm, mean body weight, length, and head circumference remained higher in the PF group than in the TF group, and body mass index was similar and within the normal range in the 2 groups.

CONCLUSIONS: At 4 months after discharge, growth and mineralization were better in the VLBW infants who were fed PF during the first 2 months after discharge compared with those who were fed TF, suggesting that PF may be particularly valuable at this early stage of development.