Effect of Enteral Olive Oil Supplement On Weight Gain and Development of Some Complications in Preterm
Condition: Olive Oil Adverse Reaction; Nursing Caries; Enteral and Supplement Feeds Adverse Reaction; Preterm
MeSH terms: Premature Birth; Weight Gain
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      Objective: The objective of the present research is to compare the nutritional status, weight
      gain, length of hospital stay, and development of some complications in very low birth-weight
      (VLBW) infants who received and did not receive olive oil supplementation enterally.
    

Detailed description: 
      It is known that nutrition of very low birth-weight (VLBW, <1500 g) neonates is as crucial as
      the treatments they receive in the neonatal intensive care unit to prevent problems that may
      develop in long-term follow-ups and increase their quality of life. VLBW neonates need
      parenteral nutrition as an energy source to ensure optimal growth, and lipid emulsion
      represents an indispensable part of total parenteral nutrition [1]. VLBW neonates with an
      underdeveloped immune system and antioxidant defense due to preterm birth are vulnerable to
      oxidative stress, which takes an important part in the development of diseases, e.g., chronic
      lung disease (CLD), retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), and
      intraventricular hemorrhage, which may increase the risk of morbidity [2,3]. Prematurity also
      causes the insufficient supply of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs),
      including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), most of which are
      transferred to the fetus during the third trimester of pregnancy [4]. These LC-PUFAs are
      essential and important for visual and cognitive development and reducing thrombotic and
      inflammatory responses [5].

      The continuation of intrauterine growth and development in the extrauterine period without
      interruption may be possible by providing parenteral and enteral nutrition support in the
      early period and maintaining this support uninterruptedly [6]. Studies have proved that
      breast milk is the gold standard for feeding neonates under all conditions. However, despite
      its enormous benefits, unsupplemented breast milk can be nutritionally inadequate for preterm
      infants for various reasons. First, breast milk does not have a sufficient amount of some
      nutrients required to ensure the rapid growth of preterm infants [7], and nutrient
      concentrations can fluctuate over time. Of these, fat is one of the most variable nutrients
      [8]. Studies have demonstrated that there are temporal and interindividual differences
      according to the mother's diet, time of day, and breastfeeding duration (e.g., a richer fat
      content of hindmilk) [9,10]. When breast milk alone cannot meet these needs, it is
      recommended that special nutritional supplements in the form of powder or liquid be added to
      breast milk and given to the infant [11].

      Due to its content, olive oil has antioxidant, cell regenerative, and anti-carcinogenic
      properties that help digestion [12]. There are clear pieces of evidence indicating that
      parenterally administered oil emulsions can be well tolerated by VLBW and even extremely low
      birth-weight infants from the first day and even from the first 1-2 hours of life [13-15].
      The objective of the current research was to compare the nutritional status, weight gain,
      length of hospital stay, and the development of some complications (BPD, ROP, GIS
      intolerance, etc.) in preterm neonates who received and did not receive olive oil enterally
      for calorie support.
    

Intervention name(s): Olive oil
Intervention type(s): Dietary Supplement
Intervention description(s): 0.5 cc/30 ml of olive oil (a brand easily available in the markets) was added to the milk at each feeding of the infants in the intervention group
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Double (Participant, Outcomes Assessor)
Primary purpose: Supportive Care
Keywords: olive oil; neonatal intensive unit; Preterm infant