Eur J Clin Nutr. 1989 May;43(5):339-46.

The sick very low birthweight infant fed by parenteral nutrition: studies of nitrogen and energy.

European journal of clinical nutrition

I Z Kovar, J Saini, J B Morgan

PMID: 2500335

Abstract

Nine ventilator-dependent intravenously-fed very low birthweight infants with a mean birthweight of 938 (range 760-1100)g and mean gestation of 27 (range 25-29) weeks were studied provided they continued to receive more than 85 per cent of their nutritional needs intravenously. Metabolic balance studies of nitrogen over 72h were undertaken between 2 and 45d postnatal age. The average number of balances performed on each infant was three. The balances were performed at a mean postconceptional age of 5, 15, 25 and 37d. The data were compared to postconceptional age-matched fetal values and to published data from well enterally-fed infants at equivalent postnatal ages and matched for postconceptional age. There was a steady increase in length, weight and head circumference throughout the study period. The mean (range) nitrogen retention was 340 (229-415) mg/kg/d and was similar to intrauterine accretion after 200d postconceptional age, and comparable to nitrogen retention rates seen in well and enterally-fed premature infants. We conclude that parenteral nutrition can sustain growth and support nitrogen retention in the small preterm infant requiring intensive care.

Substances

• Nitrogen

MeSH terms

• Anthropometry
• Critical Care
• Energy Metabolism*
• Feces / analysis
• Humans
• Infant, Low Birth Weight*
• Infant, Newborn
• Infant, Newborn, Diseases / metabolism
• Infant, Newborn, Diseases / therapy
• Infant, Newborn, Diseases / urine
• Nitrogen / metabolism
• Nutritional Status
• Parenteral Nutrition*
• Urine / analysis

Publication Types

• Journal Article
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

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