IMPACT OF EARLY PARENTERAL AND ENTERAL NUTRITIONAL PRACTICES ON THE NEURODEVELOPMENT OF PRETERM INFANTS: PROSPECTIVE COHORT WITH FOLLOW-UP UP TO 24 MONTHS
Abstract
Premature infants are at high risk for neuropsychomotor developmental delay, and the first days of life represent a critical period for brain growth. In this context, this study aimed to evaluate the influence of early parenteral and enteral nutritional strategies on the neurodevelopment of premature infants up to 24 months of corrected age. A prospective cohort study was conducted in a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit, including newborns with a gestational age <32 weeks and/or birth weight <1,500 g. Early nutrition was defined as the initiation of parenteral and/or enteral nutrition within the first 24 hours of life, with adequate caloric and protein goals during the first week. The primary outcome was neuropsychomotor performance at 24 months assessed by the Bayley scale. Among the premature infants followed up, it was observed that the adoption of early nutritional strategies was associated with a shorter time to achieve full enteral nutrition, a lower incidence of late sepsis, and better cognitive and language scores. In addition, higher protein intake in the first week showed a positive association with cognitive performance. Thus, the results suggest that the implementation of early nutritional strategies, with adequate energy and protein intake and a predominance of human milk, may contribute to better clinical and developmental outcomes in preterm infants.
Author Biography
Instituto de Educação Superior do Vale do Parnaíba (IESVAP).
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