Other benefits included fewer episodes of feed intolerance , better weight gain and growth velocity , decreased transition time from orogastric to breast feeds , and increased postpr and ial mesenteric flow .
There were no adverse effects of probiotic supplementation .
Probiotics reduced the time to full enteral feeds  in preterm neonates .
INTRODUCTION The optimization of enteral nutrition is a priority in preterm neonates worldwide .
Probiotics are known to improve gut maturity and function in preterm neonates .
To our knowledge , previous systematic review s have not adequately assessed the effects of probiotic supplementation on enteral nutrition in preterm neonates .
OBJECTIVE We assessed the evidence on effects of probiotics on enteral nutrition in preterm neonates .
Postnatal malnutrition and growth retardation: an inevitable consequence of current recommendations in preterm infants?
BACKGROUND Nutrient intakes meeting recommended dietary intakes ( RDIs ) take time to establish and once established are rarely maintained throughout hospital stay in preterm infants . A nutrient deficit , therefore , accrues . RDI are based on needs for maintenance and growth , with no provision to replace this deficit . We , therefore , hypothesized that postnatal malnutrition and growth retardation were inevitable in infants fed current RDI . METHODOLOGY Dietary intakes were prospect ively collected , by a single observer ( N.P. ) , on a daily basis in a group of preterm infants ( n = 105 ; birth weight < /=1750 g ; gestational age < /=34 weeks ) admitted to neonatal intensive care unit over a 6-month period . Actual was subtracted from recommended energy ( 120 kcal/kg/day ) and protein ( 3 g/kg/day ) intakes and nutritional deficits calculated . Infants were weighed on admission and throughout hospital stay . The data were analyzed using a combination of repeated measures analysis of variance and stepwise regression analysis . RESULTS Nutrient intakes meeting current RDIs were rarely achieved during early life . By the end of the first week , cumulative energy and protein deficits were 406 + /- 92 and 335 + /- 86 kcal/kg and 14 + /- 3 and 12 + /- 4 g/kg in infants < /=30 and those at > /=31 weeks . By the end of the fifth week , cumulative energy and protein deficits were 813 + /- 542 and 382 + /- 263 kcal/kg and 23 + /- 12 and 13 + /- 15 g/kg and the z scores were -1.14 + /-.6 and -.82 + /-.5 for infants at < /=30 and > /=31 weeks . Stepwise regression analysis indicated that variation in dietary intake accounted for 45 % of the variation in changes in z score . CONCLUSIONS Preterm infants inevitably accumulate a significant nutrient deficit in the first few weeks of life that will not be replaced when current RDIs are fed . This deficit can be directly related to subsequent postnatal growth retardation.postnatal growth retardation , preterm infants
Other benefits included fewer episodes of feed intolerance , better weight gain and growth velocity , decreased transition time from orogastric to breast feeds , and increased postpr and ial mesenteric flow .
There were no adverse effects of probiotic supplementation .
Probiotics reduced the time to full enteral feeds  in preterm neonates .
INTRODUCTION The optimization of enteral nutrition is a priority in preterm neonates worldwide .
Probiotics are known to improve gut maturity and function in preterm neonates .
To our knowledge , previous systematic review s have not adequately assessed the effects of probiotic supplementation on enteral nutrition in preterm neonates .
OBJECTIVE We assessed the evidence on effects of probiotics on enteral nutrition in preterm neonates .