Clinical experience with preterm formulas in very low birthweight infants.

Infants below 1500 g at birth were randomly assigned to receive one of two preterm infant formulars: S26 Low Birthweight (S26-LBW, 25 infants) or Enfalac Premature (EPF, 24 infants). They were either exclusively formula-fed (13 infants) or the formula was used to supplement their own mother's fresh breast milk (36 infants). The mean age when milk feeds were commenced was 7 days and the mean age when birthweight was regained was 12 days. The mean age when 2000 g was reached was 45 days at which time 10 (20%) infants were below the tenth centile on the intrauterine growth chart. None of the above variables were significantly different between the S26-LBW and EPF groups. However, the S26-LBW group established full enteral feeding significantly earlier compared to the EPF group (42 versus 64 d) and the number with adverse gastrointestinal effects was lower (4 versus 10 infants). Both preterm infant formulas supported a growth rate in excess of that in utero without stressing the infants' metabolic system. The growth rate of infants fed preterm breast milk supplemented with preterm infant formula was quantitatively similar to those exclusively fed preterm infant formula.