Growth and metabolic response of healthy low birth-weight newborns fed a semi-elemental diet.

Twelve normal low birth-weight newborns weighing between 110 and 1765 grams (means +/- SD, 1614 +/- 191) were fed by continuous intragastric drip a semi-elemental diet, providing per kilogram and per day 120 kilocalories, 2.9 grams of proteins, 17.5 grams of carbohydrates, 4.2 grams of fat and 2.4 milliequivalents of sodium. The diet contained a lactalbumin hydrolysate, dextrin maltose, and medium and long chain triglycerides. The newborns regained their birthweight between 6 and 16 days (mean +/- SD, 10.4 +/- 3.1) and gained 14 to 37 grams/day (mean +/- SD, 25.4 +/- 6.8) during the first month of life. The diet proved to be safe and clinically well-tolerated in low birth-weight infants and induced a weight gain similar to the intrauterine growth, once the birthweight had been regained.