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Growth of Preterm Infants Fed a Infant Milk Formula Containing High Versus Low Amounts of Beta-palmitate

Not Applicable
Recruiting
Conditions
Weight Gain
Interventions
Other: EX_IMF
Other: ST_IMF
Registration Number
NCT04541095
Lead Sponsor
Ospedali Riuniti Ancona
Brief Summary

The aim of this study is to assess weight gain of preterm infants (gestational age lower than 32 weeks) fed infant milk formula with about 60% beta-palmitate (EX_IMF) vs infant milk formula with similar macronutrient, mineral and fatty acid composition but lower amounts of beta-palmitate (ST_IMF). Own mother milk (OMM) fed infants will serve as reference group.

Detailed Description

A large number of low birth weight infants during their hospital stay experience poor growth and this has been linked to reduced neurodevelopment scores.

Several enriched infant milk formulas are available for preterm infants who cannot be fed human milk. The use of infant milk formulas (IMF) enriched with triglycerides similar to human milk lipids have shown to be associated with better fatty acid and mineral intestinal absorption.

In this multicenter, randomized, controlled clinical trial, preterm infants (gestational age lower than 32 weeks), who can not be fed human milk, will be randomized to receive IMF with high or low amounts of beta-palmitate (about 60% vs 10%, respectively). A non-randomized own human milk-fed group will be included as a reference. Patients will be on the study diet as soon as possible after birth and till 36 weeks of gestation. Neurodevelopment follow-up will be performed at 24 months corrected age.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
150
Inclusion Criteria
  • gestational age between 24 and 32 weeks of gestation at enrollment,
  • birth weight greater than 750 grams,
  • singleton or twin birth (no triplet or higher),
  • fraction of inspired oxygen lower than 0.60 at enrollment,
  • feasible enteral feeding,
  • cardiovascular stable condition,
  • informed consent form signed by at least one parent or legal guardian.
Exclusion Criteria
  • congenital malformations, genetic, metabolic and endocrine disorders,
  • suspicious infection at enrollment,
  • intrauterine growth restriction (<10th centile) at enrollment,
  • maternal diabetes requiring insulin therapy,
  • neonatal asphyxia.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
EX_IMF groupEX_IMFInfants will receive infants formula with large amounts of beta-palmitate (EX_IMF).
ST_IMF groupST_IMFInfants will receive infants formula with low amounts of beta-palmitate (ST_IMF).
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Weight gainFrom birth to 36 weeks of gestational age or until discharge if this occurred before.

Body weight will be daily measured by using an electronic balance (g/kg).

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Stooling patternAt 32, 34 and then at 36 weeks of gestational age or until discharge if this occurred before.

Stooling pattern will be reported by the parents according to on the Bristol stool form scale (consistency).

Stool biochemical composition - Total fatty acidsAt 32 and then at 36 weeks of gestational age or until discharge if this occurred before.

Total fatty acids in the stool samples will be measured by gas chromatography (mg/g of dry feces).

Parenteral nutrition intakes - amino acidsFrom birth to 36 weeks of gestational age or until discharge if this occurred before.

Cumulative intravenous amino acid intakes (g/kg).

Stool biochemical composition - Palmitic acidAt 32 and then at 36 weeks of gestational age or until discharge if this occurred before.

Palmitic acid in the stool samples will be measured by gas chromatography (mg/g of dry feces).

Total body lengthAt 32, 34 and 36 weeks of gestational age or until discharge if this occurred before and then at 24 months of corrected age.

Total body length will be measured by using a stadiometer (cm).

Head circumferenceAt 32, 34 and 36 weeks of gestational age or until discharge if this occurred before and then at 24 months of corrected age.

Head circumference will be measured by using a unstretchable tape (cm).

Blood biochemistry - TriglyceridesAt 32, 34 and then at 36 weeks of gestational age or until discharge if this occurred before.

Triglyceride concentrations in blood (mg/dL).

Blood biochemistry - UreaAt 32, 34 and then at 36 weeks of gestational age or until discharge if this occurred before.

Urea concentrations in plasma (mg/dL).

CryingFor 1 consecutive day at 32, 34 and then at 36 weeks of gestational age or until discharge if this occurred before.

Crying duration will be electronically recorded by a unidirectional microphone (hours/day).

Parenteral nutrition intakes - lipidsFrom birth to 36 weeks of gestational age or until discharge if this occurred before.

Cumulative intravenous lipid intakes (g/kg).

Physical activityFor 1 consecutive day at 32, 34 and then at 36 weeks of gestational age or until discharge if this occurred before..

The number of spontaneous movements per hour will be electronically measured by Kinect system.

Stool biochemical composition - PhosphorusAt 32 and then at 36 weeks of gestational age or until discharge if this occurred before.

Fecal phosphorus will be measured by inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometry

Stool biochemical composition - MagnesiumAt 32 and then at 36 weeks of gestational age or until discharge if this occurred before.

Fecal magnesium will be measured by inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometry.

Stool biochemical composition - Hydroxylic acidsAt 32 and then at 36 weeks of gestational age or until discharge if this occurred before.

Fecal hydroxylic acids will be measured by high-resolution capillary chromatography

Human milk intakesFrom birth to 36 weeks of gestational age or until discharge if this occurred before.

Cumulative human milk intakes (mL/kg).

Blood biochemistry - PhospholipidsAt 32, 34 and then at 36 weeks of gestational age or until discharge if this occurred before.

Plasma phospholipids by gas chromatography (mg/dL).

Total body waterAt 36 weeks of gestational age or until discharge if this occurred before.

Total body water (% of body weight) will be measured by the deuterium dilution method.

In-hospital deathDaily from birth to 36 weeks of gestational age or until discharge if this occurred before.

The incidence of death during the hospital stay.

Parathyroid hormoneAt 32, 34 and then at 36 weeks of gestational age or until discharge if this occurred before.

Parathyroid hormone concentrations in blood (pg/mL).

Parenteral nutrition intakes - cumulative volumeFrom birth to 36 weeks of gestational age or until discharge if this occurred before.

Cumulative parenteral nutrition intakes (mL/kg).

Blood biochemistry - CholesterolAt 32, 34 and then at 36 weeks of gestational age or until discharge if this occurred before.

Plasma cholesterol by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (mg/dL).

Blood biochemistry - CalciumAt 32, 34 and then at 36 weeks of gestational age or until discharge if this occurred before.

Calcium concentrations in blood (mg/dL).

Stool bifidobacteriaAt 32, 34 and then at 36 weeks of gestational age or until discharge if this occurred before.

Number of bifidobacteria per gram of feces will be measured by using fluorescent in situ hybridization.

Gastrointestinal problemsDaily from birth to 36 weeks of gestational age or until discharge if this occurred before.

The incidence of gastrointestinal problems such as abdominal distension, gastric residuals, reflux and vomiting.

Stool biochemical composition - CalciumAt 32 and then at 36 weeks of gestational age or until discharge if this occurred before.

Fecal calcium will be measured by inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometry.

Infant formula intakesFrom birth to 36 weeks of gestational age or until discharge if this occurred before.

Cumulative infants formulas intakes (mL/kg).

Parenteral nutrition intakes - glucoseFrom birth to 36 weeks of gestational age or until discharge if this occurred before.

Cumulative intravenous glucose intakes (g/kg).

Parenteral nutrition durationFrom birth to 36 weeks of gestational age or until discharge if this occurred before.

Duration of parenteral nutrition (days)

Body weightAt 32, 34 and 36 weeks of gestational age or until discharge if this occurred before and then at 24 months of corrected age..

Body weight will be measured by using an electronic balance (grams).

Blood biochemistry - Fatty acidsAt 32, 34 and then at 36 weeks of gestational age or until discharge if this occurred before.

Plasma total fatty acids by gas chromatography (mg/dL).

Blood biochemistry - BilirubinAt 7 and 42 days of postnatal age.

Total and conjugated bilirubin concentrations (mg/dL).

Blood biochemistry - ElectrolytesAt 32, 34 and then at 36 weeks of gestational age or until discharge if this occurred before.

Na+, K+, Ca2+, Cl- and standard base excess (mmol/L).

Neurodevelopmental assessmentAt 24 months of corrected age.

Neurodevelopment will be assessed by the Bayley test III.

Liver function testsAt 32, 34 and then at 36 weeks of gestational age or until discharge if this occurred before.

Plasma alkaline phosphatase (ALP, IU/L), aspartate transaminase (AST, IU/L), alanine aminotransferase (ALT, IU/L) and gamma glutamyltranspeptidase concentrations (γ-GT, IU/L).

Urinary dicarboxylic acid excretionAt 32 and then at 36 weeks of gestational age or until discharge if this occurred before.

Urinary dicarboxylic acids will be measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (mmol/mol of creatinine).

Blood biochemistry - GlycaemiaAt 32, 34 and then at 36 weeks of gestational age or until discharge if this occurred before.

Glucose concentrations in blood (mg/dL).

Blood biochemistry - PhosphorusAt 32, 34 and then at 36 weeks of gestational age or until discharge if this occurred before.

phosphorus concentrations in blood (mg/dL).

Complications of prematurityDaily from birth to 36 weeks of gestational age or until discharge if this occurred before.

The incidence of complications of prematurity such as respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), Periventricular Leukomalacia (PVL), sepsis, and cholestasis.

Urinary calciumAt 32, 34 and then at 36 weeks of gestational age or until discharge if this occurred before.

Calcium concentrations in urine (mg/dL).

Urinary ureaAt 32, 34 and then at 36 weeks of gestational age or until discharge if this occurred before.

Urea concentrations in urine (mg/dL).

Urinary phosphorusAt 32, 34 and then at 36 weeks of gestational age or until discharge if this occurred before.

Phosphorus concentrations in urine (mg/dL).

Metabolic complicationsDaily from birth to 36 weeks of gestational age or until discharge if this occurred before.

hypo/hypernatremia, hypo/hyperkalemia, hypo/hyperchloremia, hypo/hypercalcemia, hypo/hyperparathyroidism, metabolic acidosis, hypo/hyperglycaemia, hypertriglyceridemia and elevated urea.

Trial Locations

Locations (2)

Istituto di Ricerca Città della Speranza

🇮🇹

Padua, Italy

Ospedali Riuniti di Ancona

🇮🇹

Ancona, Italy

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