Skip to main content
Download PDF

Preterm feeding recommendations are achievable in large-scale research studies

BMC Nutrition volume 2, Article number: 9 (2016) Cite this article

Abstract

Background

The INTERGROWTH-21st Project aimed to produce international, prescriptive, postnatal growth standards for preterm infants born to healthy, well-nourished mothers receiving adequate antenatal care. There is little information available regarding optimal postnatal growth among uncomplicated preterm newborns. We describe how the preterm infants contributing to the standards followed evidence-based feeding recommendations.

Methods

In the Fetal Growth Longitudinal Study (FGLS), a component of the INTERGROWTH-21st Project, fetal growth was monitored by ultrasound from <14 weeks’ gestation until birth in pregnancies at low risk of adverse outcomes. All preterms (≥26+0 and <37+0 weeks’ gestation) were followed up during infancy. Internationally-accepted feeding recommendations for preterms, agreed by the INTERGROWTH-21st Neonatal Group, were implemented at each study site. Standardised questionnaires served to record information on their feeding practices.

Results

Feeding data were collected from 201 eligible preterms. The median (interquartile range, IQR) gestational age at birth was 36.0 (35.0 – 36.6) weeks. The prevalence of any breastfeeding was 82 % within 72 h of birth, 96 % at 2 weeks, 82 % at 4 months and 70 % at 8 months postnatal age. The figures for exclusive breastfeeding were 51 % within 72 h of birth, 72 % at hospital discharge, 49 % at 4 months, 38 % at 5 months and 12 % at 6 months. Complementary foods were introduced at a median (IQR) postnatal age of 6.0 (5.1 – 6.8) months.

Conclusion

Most preterms were exclusively breastfed upon hospital discharge, and breastfeeding remained a substantial source of nutrition throughout the study. Recommendations, centred on breastfeeding, were adequately followed within the expected variation of such diverse settings.

Peer Review reports

Background

INTERGROWTH-21st is a multi-country project to develop international, prescriptive standards for fetal growth, newborn size and preterm postnatal growth [1], to complement the existing WHO Child Growth Standards [2, 3]. Such standards describe how individuals should grow, as opposed to reference charts that describe how individuals have grown at particular times and locations [4]. The aim of the Postnatal Preterm Follow-up Study (PPFS), a component of the INTERGROWTH-21st Project was to construct prescriptive standards to monitor the postnatal growth of preterm infants following our a priori conceptual framework [4]. Using a similar approach to the WHO Multicentre Growth Reference Study (MGRS) [2, 3], we studied a cohort of uncomplicated, preterm infants born to healthy, well-nourished women from geographically diverse populations, who received adequate antenatal care and were at low risk of adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes, and who were not exposed to any known non-microbiological contamination or toxic substances [5].

Preterm infants are a heterogeneous group, varying by gestational age at birth and the severity of their comorbidities, many of which are associated with being born at a very early gestational age and growth restricted [6]. Some of the comorbidities are also probably associated with immature gastrointestinal function, resulting in an imbalance between rapid growth, nutrient supply and the adequacy of the metabolic response, occurring during the unplanned transition from trans-placental nutrition to oral feeding [7, 8].

There is controversy, both conceptually and at a practical level, about how best to feed preterms; hence, feeding practices vary among and within countries [9]. Some practices have been proposed, which should support a tissue accretion rate matching that of normal intrauterine growth. This approach assumes that the growth rate of a fetus of a comparable gestational age is desirable for the postnatal growth, development and long-term health of a preterm. However, such a pattern is seldom attained in preterm neonates, who almost always show a postnatal cumulative nutritional deficit and so-called ‘extrauterine growth restriction’ [10]. Feeding guidelines for term infants are based on the substantial benefits of breast milk, e.g. decreased rates of infection and mortality, and better long-term outcomes, including improved neurocognitive and cardiovascular development. There is increasing evidence that there are also important benefits to be gained from giving the mother’s milk to sick and preterm infants in neonatal intensive care units [11]. However, their nutritional needs are different from those of term infants and should be evaluated carefully, especially bearing in mind the need to fortify human milk [11].

Therefore, in developing the preterm prescriptive growth standards, it was essential to ensure that the recommended feeding practices for optimal postnatal growth in preterms were implemented, including the provision of supplements and complementary foods when necessary. In this paper, we describe the breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices of the infants enrolled in PPFS.

Methods

Study design

INTERGROWTH-21st was a population-based project conducted between 2009 and 2014, in eight urban areas: the cities of Pelotas, Brazil; Turin, Italy; Muscat, Oman; Oxford, UK; Seattle, USA; Shunyi County, a suburban district of the Beijing municipality, China; the central area of the city of Nagpur (Central Nagpur), Maharashtra, India; and the Parklands suburb of Nairobi, Kenya [1].

All singleton, preterm newborns (≥26+0 to <37+0 weeks’ gestation) in the Fetal Growth Longitudinal Study (FGLS) component of INTERGROWTH-21st, whose intrauterine growth was monitored by ultrasound, were eligible for PPFS. The detailed methodology has been published elsewhere [1]. Briefly, infants contributing to the standards must have: a) been free of major congenital malformations and severe neonatal conditions associated with impaired postnatal growth; b) received standardised, evidence-based care [12], and c) been exclusively or predominantly breastfed according to current recommendations. To achieve this goal, the INTERGROWTH-21st Neonatal Group developed, before the study commenced, a set of minimum recommendations for neonatal and postnatal care, based on current practice and recent publications (Table 1) [12–15]. Their feeding recommendations promoted exclusive breastfeeding by the time of hospital discharge and up to 6 months of age, consistent with the recommendations of WHO that have been adopted widely. Food source recommendations were, in order of preference, breastfeeding or expressed breast milk, donor human milk, and preterm formula. Guidelines for the initiation of milk feeding and progression volumes, and the use of nutritional supplements and fortifiers were provided [12, 15].

Table 1 Evidence-based recommendations used in Preterm Postnatal Follow-up Study of the INTERGROWTH-21st Project
Full size table

Data collection

Follow-up visits were scheduled 48–72 h after birth, every 2 weeks (i.e. 2 weeks ± 2 days, 4 ± 3, 6 ± 4, and 8 weeks ± 5 days from birth) during the first 8 weeks after birth, then every 4 weeks (i.e. 3 months ± 9 days, 4 ± 12, 5 ± 15, 6 ± 18, 7 ± 21, and 8 months ± 24 days after birth) until 8 months of postnatal age. Standardised questionnaires, used at each visit, recorded feeding practices and morbidity (available from www.intergrowth21.org.uk). Mothers were asked to recall the food types consumed, methods of feeding, use of vitamin and mineral supplements, and dietary intake of their infant in the 24-h period preceding the visit, using an Infant Food Recall (IFR) questionnaire. If their diet on that day was atypical (e.g. due to illness or travelling), mothers were asked to recall the last typical day. Anthropometric measurements (weight, length and head circumference) were taken as in WHO MGRS [16].

Variable definitions and classifications

Feeding practices were defined according to WHO indicators [17]. Exclusive breastfeeding refers to exclusive human breast milk with no other foods or liquids (including water), except oral rehydration solution and drops/syrups of vitamins, minerals or medicines. Predominantly breastfed refers to breast milk as the main source of nourishment but additional water or water-based drinks, such as teas or infusions, fruit juice or ritual fluids, were offered. Partial breastfeeding refers to some breast milk as well as other foods or food-based fluids, such as formula milk or weaning foods. Formula and other liquids refer to predominantly received standard-, preterm-, high-energy-, soy-based-, hydrolysed-, or other special- formulas for preterm and low-birth-weight infants, plus water, fruit or vegetable juice, tea or sweetened drinks.

Complementary foods included all semi-solid or solid foods besides milk or formula, except water, fruit or vegetable juice, tea and sweetened drinks and were categorised into seven groups: grains, roots and tubers; legumes and nuts; dairy products; flesh foods; eggs; vitamin A-rich fruits and vegetables; and other fruits and vegetables.

Data analysis

The mean and standard deviation (SD), or median and interquartile range (IQR), were used to describe continuous variables, and percentages for categorical variables. Where appropriate, the infants were categorised according to gestational age into early (<34+0 weeks’ gestation) and late (≥34+0 to <37+0 weeks’ gestation) preterms.

Ethical approval and consent

The INTERGROWTH-21st Project was approved by the Oxfordshire Research Ethics Committee “C” (reference 08/H0606/139), the research ethics committees of the individual participating institutions, and the corresponding regional or national health authorities where the project was carried out. We obtained institutional consent to use routinely collected data and women gave oral consent.

Results

In total, 224 preterms were born in FGLS. Of these, 201 (99 boys and 102 girls) were alive, free of congenital malformations and enrolled in PPFS. The distribution of the 201 preterm newborns across sites was: Brazil = 18 %; China = 9 %; India = 15 %; Italy = 12 %; Kenya = 15 %; Oman = 15 %; UK = 11 %, and USA = 5 %. We documented feeding practices of these infants during their first 8 months after birth.

Most mothers (45.3 %) were aged 25–30 years and 72.6 % were nulliparous; 30.4 % had pregnancy-related and 19.9 % non-pregnancy-related complications (Table 2). Of those with pregnancy-related complications, the most common were pregnancy-induced hypertension (8.5 %), vaginal bleeding >27 weeks’ gestation (5.5 %), gestational diabetes (5.0 %), and pre-eclampsia (3.0 %) (data not shown). At birth, the mean (SD) birthweight was 2,452 (519) g, length 45.6 (2.7) cm, and head circumference 31.7 (1.8) cm (Table 2). The population was mostly composed of late preterm infants, as the median gestational age (GA) was 36 weeks (IQR 35.0 - 36.6).

Table 2 Neonatal and maternal characteristics
Full size table

Forty-seven percent of newborns were admitted to an intensive or special care unit after birth for respiratory support (10.1 %), surfactant treatment (2.4 %) or tube feeding/parenteral nutrition (34.3 %). The most common neonatal problems were hyperbilirubinemia (22.9 %), respiratory distress (10.4 %), lack of oral feeding for >24 h (11.9 %), and transient tachypnea (14.9 %). The median (IQR) length of stay at special care units was 4.0 (2–8) days; three (1.5 %) preterms stayed in hospital for ≥60 days (data not shown). As expected, most of the postnatal morbidities known to be related to severe prematurity (e.g. bronchopulmonary dysplasia, apnea of prematurity, retinopathy of prematurity) were observed in the very preterm infants (GA <32 weeks)

Within the first 72 h after birth, oral feeding was initiated in 94 % of the infants. The percentage of infants who received any breastfeeding was 81.8 % within 72 h of birth, 96.4 % at 2 weeks of age, 93.5 % at 8 weeks and 82 % at 4 months (Fig. 1). Exclusive breastfeeding increased from 51.1 % at 72 h after birth (Fig. 1) to 72.1 % by hospital discharge, (late preterms = 75.7 % and early preterms = 50.0 %, data not shown), with a further 16.9 % partially breastfed at hospital discharge (late preterms = 15.0 % and early preterms = 28.6 %, data not shown) (Fig. 2). The rate of exclusive breastfeeding continued to increase to 64.1 % at 2 weeks, and was sustained until 3 months of postnatal age in 55.5 % of the cohort (57.6 and 44.0 % of late and early preterms, respectively; data not shown). At 4 weeks, 31.1 % of infants were fed with breast milk and other milk/formula only, decreasing to 26.0 % at 8 weeks, 31.7 % at 3 months, 26.7 % at 4 months and 10.3 % at 6 months (Fig. 1). Exclusive breastfeeding gradually diminished between 5 and 8 months from 36.8 to 0.8 % and 41.7 to 4.6 %, in late and early preterms, respectively (data not shown), while the consumption of semi-solid and solid foods increased from 32.3 % at 5 months to 96.5 % at 8 months (37.2 to 97.5 %, and 4.17 to 90.9 %, in late and early preterms, respectively) (Fig. 2). High rates of any breastfeeding continued with 73.7 % still being breastfed at 6 months, and 70.4 % (early preterms = 70.8 % and late preterms = 68.2 %, data not shown) still receiving breast milk at 8 months of age (Fig. 2).

Fig. 1
figure1

Feeding practices of the preterm infants at each follow-up point. Parenteral nutrition or complementary foods refers to preterm infants receiving parenteral nutrition support during their first 72 h, and infants receiving complementary foods only thereafter. Formula and other liquids refers to exclusive formula feeding during their first 72 h and formula with other liquids thereafter

Full size image
Fig. 2
figure2

Proportion of preterm infants exclusively breastfed, partially breastfed and receiving solid or semi-solid foods, at hospital discharge and each follow-up point

Full size image

Grains, roots and tubers were consumed by 19.3 % of preterms at 5 months, 51.1 % at 6 months and 90.1 % at 8 months of age (Fig. 3). By 5 months, vitamin A-rich fruits and vegetables and other fruits and vegetables were being consumed by 12.4 and 16.8 %, respectively. These two food groups were not offered as frequently as grains, roots and tubers, but were given to 61.3 and 72.5 % of infants, respectively, by 8 months. Flesh foods, eggs, and legumes and nuts were offered to 36.8, 7.9, and 13.2 % of infants at 7 months of age, respectively. By 8 months, flesh foods were given to 51.4 % of preterms, while the consumption of eggs, and legumes and nuts remained low (14.1 and 19.7 %, respectively).

Fig. 3
figure3

Proportion of preterm infants consuming solid or semi-solid food groups, between 3 and 8 months of follow-up

Full size image

Iron supplements were routinely given to preterm infants at most sites in hospital and after discharge, except Oxford where, typically, only infants <35 weeks’ gestation received supplements. Most sites provided Vitamin D supplements for infants after discharge but in the participating Nairobi hospitals, vitamin D was only given to selected preterms, and the practice was not standard in Oman. Vitamin K was given at birth to preterm babies at all sites, and most gave multivitamins during and after the hospital stay. Participating hospitals in Brazil gave multivitamins to selected preterms only; standard practice in China was Vitamin A supplementation in hospital and after discharge.

The patterns of longitudinal growth in this cohort for length were very similar to those of the WHO Child Growth Standards for term neonates [2] during the first months of life, but weight and head circumference differed from the WHO standards until 64 weeks’ postmenstrual age [18].

Discussion

One of the aims of the INTERGROWTH-21st Project was to produce, for the first time, international standards for postnatal growth of preterm infants by gestational age, conforming to the prescriptive approach used in WHO MGRS. Healthy, well-nourished women with minimal constraints on fetal growth were studied prospectively, resulting in a relatively homogenous and ‘healthy’ population (according to gestational age) of preterm infants. To support the development of the standards, descriptive data were collected to document the degree to which feeding guidelines for adequate postnatal growth were followed.

The participating neonatal teams agreed to follow a set of recommended feeding practices based on the increasing evidence of the short- and long-term benefits of breastfeeding for preterm infants. This included guidelines on supplementation and the introduction of complementary foods.

In this cohort, nearly half the preterm infants were exclusively or predominantly breastfed until 4 months of age, and over two-thirds were still being breastfed at 8 months of age. The rates of exclusive or predominant breastfeeding were lower in this study than in WHO MGRS (MGRS – approximately 80 and 63 %; PPFS – 65.3 and 56.5 % at 4 weeks and 3 months, respectively) [19]. These results are not unexpected as breastfeeding rates are generally lower in preterm compared to term infants [9, 20–22], and establishing and maintaining breastfeeding in preterms requires considerable support. Factors that may impact upon the ability of preterms to breastfeed are clinical conditions related to prematurity, extended hospitalization, increased sleepiness and maternal illness. Other obstacles may include reduced muscular strength affecting latching, suckling and swallowing. The infant may also be discharged before lactation is fully established, so breastfeeding difficulties cannot be addressed by healthcare professionals. We emphasised these issues across the study sites, suggesting strategies to help mothers overcome these barriers. However, moving from the context of a research project to general practice will, realistically, be far more challenging.

It has been suggested that, wherever possible, preterm infants should be introduced to solid foods between 5 and 8 months of age to ensure that the appropriate transition period is not missed, and to encourage the development of feeding skills [23]. Healthy, late preterms, born ≥34 weeks’ gestation, may be introduced to solid foods using the same guidelines as term infants. The mean age at which complementary foods were introduced in PPFS was 6 months; not much later than reported for term infants (5.4 months) enrolled in a similar context, who achieved the recommended feeding criteria in WHO MGRS [24]. Of the complementary food groups, the grains, roots and tubers group was the most consistently offered, also similar to WHO MGRS.

Both the American Academy of Pediatrics and European Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition recommend preterm infants receive an iron supplement after hospital discharge [25, 26]. Unlike exclusively breastfed term infants, who can usually maintain their iron levels until approximately 6 months of age, breastfed preterm infants should receive regular iron supplementation, 2–4 mg/kg/day, from hospital discharge until approximately 6 to 12 months of age [25–27]. Such recommendations were fully implemented at all INTERGROWTH-21st sites. There is some evidence to suggest that low birth weight infants and preterms <32 weeks’ gestation may benefit from multivitamins and vitamin D supplementation [14]; nearly all our sites provided these supplements after hospital discharge, and vitamin K was given as standard at birth.

PPFS was designed to construct prescriptive standards from a population of preterm infants with the best potential for healthy growth and development, if supported by adequate nutrition and clinical care. Exclusive breastfeeding was established in most PPFS infants by hospital discharge and breastfeeding remained an important source of nutrition for these infants throughout the study. This was consistent with the main goal of the INTERGROWTH-21st Neonatal Group feeding guidelines [12], which were based on the most current evidence to promote optimal growth at the population level for uncomplicated preterm infants [14].

By 64 weeks’ postmenstrual age, the 50th centiles of our cohort’s weights, lengths and head circumferences merged with those of the WHO Child Growth Standards [2], which indicates that preterm infants without severe postnatal complications, who are predominantly breastfed and receiving adequate postnatal care, progressively recuperate in early postnatal life [18].

Conclusions

There is little high-quality information available regarding the most appropriate patterns of postnatal growth for the optimal development and long-term health of preterm infants. Current evidence advocates breastfeeding with appropriate supplementation as the best way to support the growth and development of healthy preterm infants. When conducting postnatal growth research, it is essential to document feeding practices and the extent to which they adhered to the best available evidence.

Uncomplicated, preterm infants can follow evidence-based feeding recommendations centered on breastfeeding. When assessed against the WHO Child Growth Standards for 6 month old infants, adequate growth is achievable for babies born preterm with appropriate nutrition and clinical care.

References

  1. 1.

    Villar J, Altman DG, Purwar M, Noble JA, Knight HE, Ruyan P, et al. International Fetal and Newborn Growth Consortium for the 21st Century: The objectives, design and implementation of the INTERGROWTH-21st Project. BJOG. 2013;120 Suppl 2:9–26.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. 2.

    de Onis M, Garza C, Onyango AW, Martorell R. WHO Child Growth Standards. Acta Paediatr Suppl. 2006;450:1–101.

    Google Scholar 

  3. 3.

    de Onis M, Garza C, Victora CG, Bhan MK, Norum KR. The WHO Multicentre Growth Reference Study: planning, study design, and methodology. Food Nutr Bull. 2004;25(1 Suppl):S15–26.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. 4.

    Villar J, Knight HE, de Onis M, Bertino E, Gilli G, Papageorghiou AT, et al. International Fetal and Newborn Growth Consortium (INTERGROWTH-21st). Conceptual issues related to the construction of prescriptive standards for the evaluation of postnatal growth of preterm infants. Arch Dis Child. 2010;95(12):1034–8.

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. 5.

    Eskenazi B, Bradman A, Finkton D, Purwar M, Noble JA, Pang R, et al. International Fetal and Newborn Growth Consortium for the 21st Century. A rapid questionnaire assessment of environmental exposures to pregnant women in the INTERGROWTH-21st Project. BJOG. 2013;120 Suppl 2:129–38.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. 6.

    Santos IS, Matijasevich A, Domingues MR, Barros AJ, Victora CG, Barros FC. Late preterm birth is a risk factor for growth faltering in early childhood: a cohort study. BMC Pediatr. 2009;9:71.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  7. 7.

    Tudehope D, Fewtrell M, Kashyap S, Udaeta E. Nutritional needs of the micropreterm infant. J Pediatr. 2013;162(3 Suppl):S72–80.

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. 8.

    Ward Platt M, Deshpande S. Metabolic adaptation at birth. Semin Fetal Neonatal Med. 2005;10(4):341–50.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. 9.

    Lapillonne A, O’Connor DL, Wang D, Rigo J. Nutritional recommendations for the late-preterm infant and the preterm infant after hospital discharge. J Pediatr. 2013;162(3 Suppl):S90–100.

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. 10.

    Clark RH, Thomas P, Peabody J. Extrauterine growth restriction remains a serious problem in prematurely born neonates. Pediatrics. 2003;111(5 Pt 1):986–90.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. 11.

    Underwood MA. Human milk for the premature infant. Pediatr Clin North Am. 2013;60(1):189–207.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. 12.

    Bhutta Z, Giuliani F, Haroon A, Knight HE, Albernaz E, Batra M, et al. International Fetal and Newborn Growth Consortium for the 21st Century. Standardisation of neonatal clinical practice. BJOG. 2013;120 Suppl 2:56–63.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. 13.

    WHO, UNICEF. Global Strategy on Infant and Young Child Feeding. Geneva: WHO Press; 2003.

    Google Scholar 

  14. 14.

    Edmond K, Bahl R. World Health Organization Technical Review: Optimal feeding of low-birth-weight infants. Geneva: WHO Press; 2006.

    Google Scholar 

  15. 15.

    INTERGROWTH-21st Neonatal Care Group. Basic Neonatal Care Manual. 2010. http://www.medscinet.net/Intergrowth/patientinfodocs/Neonatal%20Manual%20Final.pdf. Accessed 12 June 2015.

  16. 16.

    Cheikh Ismail L, Knight H, Ohuma E, Hoch L, Chumlea WC. International Fetal and Newborn Growth Consortium for the 21st Century. Anthropometric standardisation and quality control protocols for the construction of new, international, fetal and newborn growth standards: the INTERGROWTH-21st Project. BJOG. 2013;120 Suppl 2:48–55.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. 17.

    WHO. Indicators for assessing infant and young child feeding practices - Part I: Definitions. Geneva: WHO Press; 2008.

    Google Scholar 

  18. 18.

    Villar J, Giuliani F, Bhutta ZA, Bertino E, Ohuma EO, Cheikh Ismail L, et al. Postnatal growth standards for preterm infants: the Preterm Postnatal Follow-up Study of the INTERGROWTH-21st Project. Lancet Global Health. 2015;3:e681–91.

  19. 19.

    WHO Multicentre Growth Reference Study Group. Breastfeeding in the WHO Multicentre Growth Reference Study. Acta Paediatr Suppl. 2006;450:16–26.

    Google Scholar 

  20. 20.

    Meier P, Patel AL, Wright K, Engstrom JL. Management of breastfeeding during and after the maternity hospitalization for late preterm infants. Clin Perinatol. 2013;40(4):689–705.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  21. 21.

    Nagulesapillai T, McDonald SW, Fenton TR, Mercader HF, Tough SC. Breastfeeding difficulties and exclusivity among late preterm and term infants: results from the all our babies study. Can J Public Health. 2013;104(4):e351–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. 22.

    Liu P, Qiao L, Xu F, Zhang M, Wang Y, Binns CW. Factors associated with breastfeeding duration: a 30-month cohort study in northwest China. J Hum Lact. 2013;29(2):253–9.

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. 23.

    King CL. An evidence based guide to weaning preterm infants. Paediatr Child Health. 2009;19(9):405–14.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. 24.

    WHO Multicentre Growth Reference Study Group. Complementary feeding in the WHO Multicentre Growth Reference Study. Acta Paediatr Suppl. 2006;450:27–37.

    Google Scholar 

  25. 25.

    Agostoni C, Buonocore G, Carnielli VP, De Curtis M, Darmaun D, Decsi T, et al. ESPGHAN Committee on Nutrition. Enteral nutrient supply for preterm infants; commentary from the European Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition Committee on Nutrition. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2010;50(1):85–91.

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. 26.

    Baker RD, Greer FR. Diagnosis and prevention of iron deficiency and iron-deficiency anemia in infants and young children (0–3 years of age). Pediatrics. 2010;126(5):1040–50.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. 27.

    Tsang RC, Koletzko B, Zlotkin S. Nutrition of the Preterm Infant: Scientific Basis and Practical Guidelines. Cincinatti, OH: Digital Educational Publishing Inc; 2005.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This project was supported by a generous grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to the University of Oxford, for which we are very grateful. We would also like to thank the Health Authorities in Pelotas, Brazil; Beijing, China; Nagpur, India; Turin, Italy; Nairobi, Kenya; Muscat, Oman; Oxford, UK and Seattle, USA, who facilitated the project by allowing participation of these study sites as collaborating centres. We are extremely grateful to Philips Medical Systems who provided the ultrasound equipment and technical assistance throughout the project. We also thank MedSciNet U.K. Ltd for setting up the INTERGROWTH-21st web-site and for the development, maintenance and support of the on-line data management system. MMS gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the National Counsel of Technological and Scientific Development, Brazil.

We thank the parents and infants who participated in the studies and the more than 200 members of the research teams who made the implementation of this project possible. The participating hospitals included: Brazil, Pelotas (Hospital Miguel Piltcher, Hospital São Francisco de Paula, Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Pelotas, and Hospital Escola da Universidade Federal de Pelotas); China, Beijing (Beijing Obstetrics & Gynecology Hospital, Shunyi Maternal & Child Health Centre, and Shunyi General Hospital); India, Nagpur (Ketkar Hospital, Avanti Institute of Cardiology Private Limited, Avantika Hospital, Gurukrupa Maternity Hospital, Mulik Hospital & Research Centre, Nandlok Hospital, Om Women’s Hospital, Renuka Hospital & Maternity Home, Saboo Hospital, Brajmonhan Taori Memorial Hospital, and Somani Nursing Home); Kenya, Nairobi (Aga Khan University Hospital, MP Shah Hospital and Avenue Hospital); Italy, Turin (Ospedale Infantile Regina Margherita Sant’ Anna and Azienda Ospedaliera Ordine Mauriziano); Oman, Muscat (Khoula Hospital, Royal Hospital, Wattayah Obstetrics & Gynaecology Poly Clinic, Wattayah Health Centre, Ruwi Health Centre, Al-Ghoubra Health Centre and Al-Khuwair Health Centre); UK, Oxford (John Radcliffe Hospital) and USA, Seattle (University of Washington Hospital, Swedish Hospital, and Providence Everett Hospital).

Full acknowledgement of all those who contributed to the development of the INTERGROWTH-21st Project protocol appears at www.intergrowth21.org.uk.

Financial disclosure statement

The authors have indicated that they have no financial relationships relevant to this article to disclose.

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Nuffield Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology and Oxford Maternal & Perinatal Health Institute, Green Templeton College, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK

    Leila Cheikh Ismail, Deborah Bishop, Aris T. Papageorghiou, Fabien Puglia, Michael Maia-Schlüssel, Eric Ohuma, Ann Lambert, Stephen H. Kennedy & José Villar

  2. Neonatologia Universitaria, Dipartimento di Scienze della Sanità Pubblicae Pediatriche, Università degli Studi di Torino, Torino, Italy

    Francesca Giuliani & Enrico Bertino

  3. Royal Hospital, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman

    Bashir A. Bhat

  4. Faculty of Health Sciences, Aga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya

    Roseline Ochieng

  5. Centre for Statistics in Medicine, Botnar Research Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK

    Douglas G. Altman & Eric Ohuma

  6. Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK

    Julia A. Noble

  7. Global Alliance to Prevent Prematurity and Stillbirth (GAPPS), Seattle Children’s, Seattle, WA, USA

    Michael G. Gravett

  8. Nagpur INTERGROWTH-21st Research Centre, Ketkar Hospital, Nagpur, India

    Manorama Purwar

  9. Shunyi Maternal & Child Health Hospital, Beijing, China

    Lui Yajing

  10. Departamento Materno-Infantil, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil

    Denise Mota

  11. Center of Excellence in Women & Child Health, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan and Center for Global Child Health, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada

    Zulfiqar A. Bhutta

  12. Nuffield Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Level 3 Women’s Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK

    Leila Cheikh Ismail

Authors
  1. Leila Cheikh Ismail
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Francesca Giuliani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Bashir A. Bhat
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Deborah Bishop
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Aris T. Papageorghiou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Roseline Ochieng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Fabien Puglia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Douglas G. Altman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Michael Maia-Schlüssel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Julia A. Noble
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. Enrico Bertino
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  12. Michael G. Gravett
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  13. Manorama Purwar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  14. Lui Yajing
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  15. Denise Mota
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  16. Eric Ohuma
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  17. Ann Lambert
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  18. Stephen H. Kennedy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  19. Zulfiqar A. Bhutta
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  20. José Villar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Consortia

for the International Fetal and Newborn Growth Consortium for the 21st Century (INTERGROWTH-21st)

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Leila Cheikh Ismail.

Additional information

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Authors’ contributions

All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Stephen H. Kennedy, Zulfiqar A. Bhutta and José Villar are joint senior authors.

Appendix

Appendix

Members of the International Fetal and Newborn Growth Consortium for the 21st Century (INTERGROWTH-21st) and its Committees

Scientific Advisory Committee

M Katz (Chair from January 2011), MK Bhan, C Garza, S Zaidi, A Langer, PM Rothwell (from February 2011), Sir D Weatherall (Chair until December 2010).

Steering Committee

ZA Bhutta (Chair), J Villar (Principal Investigator), S Kennedy (Project Director), DG Altman, FC Barros, E Bertino, F Burton, M Carvalho, L Cheikh Ismail, WC Chumlea, MG Gravett, YA Jaffer, A Lambert, P Lumbiganon, JA Noble, RY Pang, AT Papageorghiou, M Purwar, J Rivera, C Victora.

Executive Committee

J Villar (Chair), DG Altman, ZA Bhutta, L Cheikh Ismail, S Kennedy, A Lambert, JA Noble, AT Papageorghiou.

Project Coordinating Unit

J Villar (Head), S Kennedy, L Cheikh Ismail, A Lambert, AT Papageorghiou, M Shorten, L Hoch (until May 2011), HE Knight (until August 2011), EO Ohuma (from September 2010), C Cosgrove (from July 2011), I Blakey (from March 2011).

Data Analysis Group

DG Altman (Head), EO Ohuma, J Villar.

Data Management Group

DG Altman (Head), F Roseman, N Kunnawar, SH Gu, JH Wang, MH Wu, M Domingues, P Gilli, L Juodvirsiene, L Hoch (until May 2011), N Musee (until June 2011), H Al-Jabri (until October 2010), S Waller (until June 2011), C Cosgrove (from July 2011), D Muninzwa (from October 2011), EO Ohuma (from September 2010), D Yellappan (from November 2010), A Carter (from July 2011), D Reade (from June 2012), R Miller (from June 2012).

Ultrasound Group

AT Papageorghiou (Head), L Salomon (Senior external advisor), A Leston, A Mitidieri, F Al-Aamri, W Paulsene, J Sande, WKS Al-Zadjali, C Batiuk, S Bornemeier, M Carvalho, M Dighe, P Gaglioti, N Jacinta, S Jaiswal, JA Noble, K Oas, M Oberto, E Olearo, MG Owende, J Shah, S Sohoni, T Todros, M Venkataraman, S Vinayak, L Wang, D Wilson, QQ Wu, S Zaidi, Y Zhang, P Chamberlain (until September 2012), D Danelon (until July 2010), I Sarris (until June 2010), J Dhami (until July 2011), C Ioannou (until February 2012), CL Knight (from October 2010), R Napolitano (from July 2011), S Wanyonyi (from May 2012), C Pace (from January 2011), V Mkrtychyan (from June 2012).

Anthropometry Group

L Cheikh Ismail (Head), WC Chumlea (Senior external advisor), F Al-Habsi, ZA Bhutta, A Carter, M Alija, JM Jimenez-Bustos, J Kizidio, F Puglia, N Kunnawar, H Liu, S Lloyd, D Mota, R Ochieng, C Rossi, M Sanchez Luna, YJ Shen, HE Knight (until August 2011), DA Rocco (from June 2012), IO Frederick (from June 2012).

Neonatal Group

ZA Bhutta (Head), E Albernaz, M Batra, BA Bhat, E Bertino, P Di Nicola, F Giuliani, I Rovelli, K McCormick, R Ochieng, RY Pang, V Paul, V Rajan, A Wilkinson, A Varalda (from September 2012).

Environmental Health Group

B Eskenazi (Head), LA Corra, H Dolk, J Golding, A Matijasevich, T de Wet, JJ Zhang, A Bradman, D Finkton, O Burnham, F Farhi.

Participating countries and local investigators

Brazil: FC Barros (Principal Investigator), M Domingues, S Fonseca, A Leston, A Mitidieri, D Mota, IK Sclowitz, MF da Silveira.

China: RY Pang (Principal Investigator), YP He, Y Pan, YJ Shen, MH Wu, QQ Wu, JH Wang, Y Yuan, Y Zhang.

India: M Purwar (Principal Investigator), A Choudhary, S Choudhary, S Deshmukh, D Dongaonkar, M Ketkar, V Khedikar, N Kunnawar, C Mahorkar, I Mulik, K Saboo, C Shembekar, A Singh, V Taori, K Tayade, A Somani.

Italy: E Bertino (Principal Investigator), P Di Nicola, M Frigerio, G Gilli, P Gilli, M Giolito, F Giuliani, M Oberto, L Occhi, C Rossi, I Rovelli, F Signorile, T Todros.

Kenya: W Stones and M Carvalho (Co- Principal Investigators), J Kizidio, R Ochieng, J Shah, S Vinayak, N Musee (until June 2011), C Kisiang’ani (until July 2011), D Muninzwa (from August 2011).

Oman: YA Jaffer (Principal Investigator), J Al-Abri, J Al-Abduwani, FM Al-Habsi, H Al-Lawatiya, B Al-Rashidiya, WKS Al-Zadjali, FR Juangco, M Venkataraman, H Al-Jabri (until October 2010), D Yellappan (from November 2010).

UK: S Kennedy (Principal Investigator), L Cheikh Ismail, AT Papageorghiou, F Roseman, A Lambert, EO Ohuma, S Lloyd, R Napolitano (from July 2011), C Ioannou (until February 2012), I Sarris (until June 2010).

USA: MG Gravett (Principal Investigator), C Batiuk, M Batra, S Bornemeier, M Dighe, K Oas, W Paulsene, D Wilson, IO Frederick, HF Andersen, SE Abbott, AA Carter, H Algren, DA Rocco, TK Sorensen, D Enquobahrie, S Waller (until June 2011).

Rights and permissions

Open Access This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated.

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Cheikh Ismail, L., Giuliani, F., Bhat, B.A. et al. Preterm feeding recommendations are achievable in large-scale research studies. BMC Nutr 2, 9 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40795-016-0047-9

Download citation

Keywords

  • Preterm infants
  • Nutrition
  • Breastfeeding
  • Postnatal growth and development

BMC Nutrition

ISSN: 2055-0928

Contact us