Introduction: Aggressive nutritional strategy, particularly enhancing early provision of energy and protein, has appeared to reduce postnatal growth failure and improve later developmental outcomes. But the amount of macronutrients required remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of protein and energy intakes during the first two weeks after birth on neurodevelopmental outcomes.
Methods: This retrospective cohort study of very low birth weight infants born between January 2012 and December 2015 was conducted at one tertiary neonatal intensive care unit. The primary outcome was a neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI) at 2 years corrected age defined by a cerebral palsy or a 24 month Ages and Stages Questionnaires score on any of the five domains lower than 2 standard deviation below the mean score. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to adjust for perinatal and postnatal confounders.
Results: Among 245 (73%) infants discharged home alive, 159 (65%) had follow-up at 2 years. Infants with NDI (55/159, 35%) were more likely male gender (67.3% versus 46.2%, P = 0.02) and experienced more patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) ligation (20% versus 5.8%, P = 0.01) than control. After adjusting for confounders, first-week protein intake (OR: 2.27 [CI: 1.07-5.14]; P < 0.05), second-week non-protein energy intake (OR: 1.03 [CI: 1.01-1.05]; P < 0.01) and PDA ligation (OR: 6.81 [1.80-28.46]; P < 0.01) had significant independent association with higher likelihood of NDI at 2 years.
Conclusion: Providing nutrition above the optimal level may not be beneficial and may even be harmful. These results confirm the recent recommendation to decrease amino acid intakes published in the latest ESPGHAN guidelines.