The effect of optimizing the nutrition in premature infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia on their body composition and nutritional status

Introduction. A feature of the rational feeding of children with bronchopulmonary dysplasia is the subsidy of an additional amount of nutrients and calories (up to 150–160 kcal/kg/day) necessary to compensate for metabolic costs. If the issue of protein subsidies (using breast milk fortifiers, high-protein high-calorie mixtures) has already been resolved, then the possibility of additional introduction of a fat component into nutrition requires further study. We investigated the effectiveness of adding 100% medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) (Kanso oil) to the diet, which is allowed to be used in infants from birth.
Aim: To study the effect of the inclusion of MCT in the nutrition of premature BPD infants on their nutritional and anthropometric status.
Materials and methods. There were examined 75 BPD premature infants, divided in 2 groups: main (n = 49) — infants receiving a fat module with nutrition, represented by 100% medium-chain triglycerides (SCT); control (n = 26) — infants received no SCT. Before the start, 1 month and 4 months after the beginning of the study, the quantitative content of biochemical indices characterizing protein and fat metabolism was determined. 1 month and 4 months after the beginning of the study, the examination of body composition (indices of fat and fat-free mass), as well as residual lung capacity, was carried out on a PeaPod analyzer, LMi, USA.
Results. An increase in fat content in diets and their caloric content, even against the background of dietary restrictions in BPD infants, provided positive trend in anthropometric indices, a gain in the amount of lean mass without excessive accumulation of body fat and an increase in lung volume.

premature infants, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, anthropometric indices, body composition, medium-chain triglycerides

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