Monitoring of biochemical parameters in preterm infants on special regime feeding

Abstract

Enriched human milk may stimulate gain weight in preterm infants during the neonatal period. Aim is the biochemical assessment of preterm infants, fed by mother's milk fortificated with the special domestic formula preImpamil during the first month of life. 80 preterm infants (45 male and 35 female), up to 36 weeks of gestation, BW less than 2500 g, started enteral intake in the first three days of life. Total volume intake was in range from 70 mL/kg first day, to 170-200 mL/kg after a 10th day of life. Mother's milk fortification was prepared as a 5% mixture solution of preImpamil. The dynamics of biochemical analyses started on the first day of study and was repeated once a week. We analysed levels of: total protein, albumin, prealbumin, transferin, urea, Ca ionised, P and alkaline phosphatase using standard biochemical methods. Statistical analyses were completed by ANOVA test, one-factorial analyses of variance. During monitoring the total protein level increased in the second week of life (p<0.01), as well as albumin (p<0.01). Prealbumin level increased, as well as transferin (p-NS). Initial level of ionised fraction of Ca was significantly lower (p<0.01) at the beginning of the study, compared to the rest. Serum level of P increased, as well as the level of alkaline phosphatase at the end of first and second week (p<0.01). Conclusion is that biochemical parameters, such as levels of protein and albumin, are important in the growth assessment of preterm infants on special feeding regimes.