A Retrospective Analysis of the Effects of an Exclusively Human Milk Protein Diet on Neonatal Feeding Tolerance

Abstract

Objective This study was aimed to evaluate the effect of human milk protein fortifier (HMPF) versus bovine milk protein fortifier (BMPF) on feeding tolerance defined as the time to reach full feeds and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in premature very low birth weight (VLBW) infants.

Study Design A retrospective review using the BabySteps Database included 493 infants born ≤33 weeks of gestational age and ≤1,250 g (g) birth weight. A total of 218 infants fed a human milk diet (HMD) with BMPF were compared with 275 infants fed an HMD with HMPF.

Results Full feeds were reached significantly sooner in the HMPF group (median: 14 vs. 16 days, p = 0.04). Weight at full feeds was significantly lower in the HMPF group (1,060 vs. 1110 g, p = 0.03).

Conclusion Using HMPF to provide an exclusively HMD allowed VLBW infants to achieve full feeds sooner, but did not affect rate of NEC compared with using a BMPF with an HMD.

Key Points

• Human milk fortifiers with human milk are better than bovine human milk protein fortifiers.

• Full feeds are reached sooner with a human milk protein fortifier.

• The incidence of NEC did not change with the use of Prolacta.

Keywords

breastmilk - feeding tolerance - fortifier - NEC

Authors' Contributions

G.M., B.M., C.W., and J.W. conceptualized and designed the study. K.M. performed statistical analysis. G.M., B.M., C.W., and J.W. supervised the study. All authors drafted the manuscript and acquired, analyzed, or interpreted the data. They had full access to all the data in the study.

Publication History

Received: 18 June 2020

Accepted: 19 October 2020

Article published online:
29 November 2020

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