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Use of a Liquid Supplement Containing 2 Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMOs) in Preterm Infants

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Premature Infant
Interventions
Dietary Supplement: Placebo comparator
Dietary Supplement: HMO supplement
Registration Number
NCT03607942
Lead Sponsor
Société des Produits Nestlé (SPN)
Brief Summary

This is a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in preterm infants conducted at least 4 centers in France, consisting of 2 parallel groups. The experimental group will receive a neonatal supplement containing 2 specific HMOs. The control group will receive a placebo neonatal supplement that does not contain any HMOs, but matched to the experimental product in energy content.

This study will include a total of approximately 86 male and female preterm infants born between 27 and 32 weeks' gestational age with birth weight ≤1700 g, who are younger than 7 days of age.

The primary objective of the study is to demonstrate the safety and tolerance of HMOs in preterm infants by monitoring weight gain rates in both of the two randomized groups.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
86
Inclusion Criteria
  • Infant's birth weight ≤1700 g.
  • Infant's gestational age ≥ 27 weeks + 0 days and ≤ 32 weeks + 6 days.
  • Infant is clinically stable
  • Infants are eligible to start HMOs / placebo as soon as possible after birth, but still within the first 7 days of life.
  • Written informed consent has been obtained from the parents/legally acceptable representative (LAR).
Exclusion Criteria
  • Parents not willing / not able to comply with the requirements of study protocol.
  • Infants receiving ongoing prophylactic antifungal therapies.
  • Infants experiencing early onset sepsis.
  • Major congenital or chromosomal abnormality known to affect growth.
  • Liver failure.
  • Severe intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) as defined by having birth weight less than 2nd percentile on the Fenton growth chart.
  • Peri-/intra-ventricular haemorrhage (grade 3-4 in Papille classification) .
  • Infant in critical condition needing intubation or inotropic agents for treatment.
  • Infant requiring prolonged (more than 3 doses) of steroid treatment.
  • Infants' participation in another interventional clinical trial that would have significant impact on current study's results.
  • Infants who have already achieved Full Enteral Feeding (FEF) prior to enrolment, using the definition accepted by neonatal unit as per standard practice (150 mL/kg/day).

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Control FormulaPlacebo comparatorThe control group will receive a liquid placebo
Experimental FormulaHMO supplementThe experimental group will receive a liquid supplement containing 2 specific HMOs
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Feeding toleranceChange from Full Enteral Feeding (FEF) Day 1 (start of FEF defined as achieving 150ml/day/kg of enteral feeding and discontinuation of parenteral feeding) and FEF Day 21 (approximately 5 weeks after enrollment)

The primary objective is to demonstrate non-inferiority in feeding tolerance (defined as number of days to reach full enteral feeding) of preterm infants receiving a liquid supplement composed of 2 HMOs compared to those receiving the placebo.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Tolerance to feeding regimenChange from enrolment (baseline) (if feasible) through study completion, average of 4 months

Through neonatal unit records

LengthChange from enrolment (baseline) (if feasible) through study completion, average of 4 months

Through standardized measurement for neonates

Head circumferenceChange from enrolment (baseline) (if feasible) through study completion, average of 4 months

Through standardized measurement for neonates

Breast milk composition such as energy, carbohydrate, proteins and fats using mid-infrared transmission methodsChange from enrolment (baseline) (if feasible) until FEF Day 21, average of 5 weeks

Macro and micro nutrients

Standard Adverse Event reporting for safety assessmentChange from enrolment (baseline) (if feasible) through study completion, average of 4 months

Through investigator-confirmed Adverse Event reporting

Fecal microbiota composition and diversityChange from enrolment (baseline) through two-months corrected age visit

Fecal microbiota composition and diversity will be assessed using next generation shotgun metagenomics sequencing to provide taxonomic composition and diversity metrics. Quantifiable changes from baseline and between feeding groups in absolute concentrations of bifidobacteria will be assessed using quantifiable polymerase chain reaction

Fecal metabolic profileChange from enrolment (baseline) through two-months corrected age visit

Measures of fecal metabolism will include fecal power of hydrogen (pH) and fecal organic acids (including lactate, propionate, butyrate, acetate, isobutyrate, isovalerate, valerate, formic acid, hexanoic acid, caprylic acid, capric acid, pelargonic acid, undecanoic acid, dodecanoic acid and total fecal organic acids).

Markers for gut health, gut maturation and immune statusChange from enrolment (baseline) (if feasible) until FEF Day 21

Markers for gut health, gut maturation and immune status will be assessed through measures of:

Fecal level of calprotectin, alpha 1 antitrypsin, pancreatic elastase, human beta-defensin 2 , secretory immunoglobulin A, Plasma level of citrulline and twenty four additional Amino Acids Urinary levels of intestinal fatty acid binding protein

Weight gainChange from enrolment (baseline) (if feasible) through study completion, average of 4 months

Through standardized measurement for neonates

Assessment of infant illnesses and infectionsChange from enrolment (baseline) (if feasible) through study completion, average of 4 months

Through Adverse Event reporting

Physical signs of gastrointestinal toleranceChange from enrolment (baseline) (if feasible) through study completion, average of 4 months

Through neonatal unit records

Early life development outcomesAt 12 Months Corrected age Visit, 18 Months Corrected age Visit, and 24 Months Corrected age Visit

Aligned with standard routine care, post-discharge clinical assessments of preterm infants include clinically relevant events since last visit, feeding practice (complementary feeding, adequate food intake), Gastrointestinal-related symptoms (sleep, crying), somatic examination (physical examination of skin, digestion, abdomen, hip), Neurosensory Examination (hearing / visual function, gross motor), Relationship and Communication Development (normal or abnormal communication, neurological or psychomotor examination, relationship

/ behavior disorders). All clinical assessments will be standardized across sites. Ages and Stages Questionnaire-3 will be administered to parents to assess their report of child's developmental progress based on Communication, Gross Motor, Fine Motor, Problem Solving, and Personal-Social domains.

Cognitive development outcomes24 Months Corrected age Visit

Will be assessed through the composite scores or scale scores of the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development - Third Edition (Bayley-III)

Trial Locations

Locations (7)

CHR Orléans - Hôpital de la Source

🇫🇷

Orléans, France

CHU de Bordeaux - Hôpital des Enfants

🇫🇷

Bordeaux, France

Hôpital Couple Enfant

🇫🇷

Grenoble, France

Hôpital Nord

🇫🇷

Marseille, France

Maternité Régionale Universitaire A. Pinard - CHRU Nancy

🇫🇷

Nancy, France

Hôpital femme-maternité

🇫🇷

Nantes, France

Centre Hospitalier de Pau

🇫🇷

Pau, France

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