Targeted Breast Milk Fortification for Very Low Birth Weight Infants in the NICU

MetroHealth Medical Center

Status: Terminated

Conditions: Human Milk; Neonate; Breast Milk

Treatments: Dietary Supplement: Targeted Fortification; Device: The Miris Human Milk Analyzer

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04025021

19-00200

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study evaluates the effectiveness of individualized human milk fortification for very low birth weight (<1500 g) babies in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) to optimize their growth. Breast milk analysis will occur on a weekly basis using the Miris Human Milk Analyzer. In the Control group, participants will receive standard TPN (total parenteral nutrition) and lipids and breast milk fortification according to MetroHealth's NICU guidelines. The Intervention group will receive TPN and lipids optimized depending on the results of breast milk analysis, followed by additional individualized fortification using additional microlipids and/or liquid protein to achieve the goal of 4g protein/kg/day and 100-130 kcal/kg/day.

Full description

Human milk has a variety of benefits for neonates, especially premature neonates, including a decreased risk of for necrotizing enterocolitis, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis, respiratory infections, and many other childhood conditions. There is variability in macronutrient and caloric content of breast milk between mothers, making it difficult to accurately quantify the nutritional content the breast milk is providing. The protein content varies by postnatal age, and the fat content varies temporally during a feed. Currently calculations use a standard value for caloric density and macronutrient content of breast milk, which is a reported average, but not necessarily specific to each individual mother. Human milk analysis has been used to address this variability. The Miris Human Milk Analyzer (HMA) is a mid-infrared analyzer and has been evaluated in many studies. It measures the macronutrient content of breast milk, providing values for protein, fat, carbohydrates, and calculated calories. By having this information available, the fortification added to breast milk can be tailored specifically to each mother's breast milk composition to meet each neonate's nutritional needs, and optimize growth.This will be a prospective randomized control study of preterm infants less than 1500 grams [very low birth weight (VLBW)] receiving human milk (maternal or donor) will be included. The control group will receive adjustment of total parenteral nutrition (TPN) per NICU guidelines as enteral feedings are advanced followed by standard fortification of human milk. The intervention group will have TPN (protein and lipids) adjusted based on analysis of human milk as feedings are advanced to provide goal 4g/kg/day of protein and 100-130 kcal/kg/day followed by targeted fortification of breast milk based on human milk analysis to continue to provide 4 g/kg/day of protein and 100-130 kcal/kg/day for once full feeds are achieved. The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the growth, anthropometric measurements, and body composition, to see if targeted fortification improves neonatal growth. By optimizing neonatal growth and nutrition there is potential to also have an impact on other morbidities and long term neurodevelopmental outcomes.

Enrollment: 3 patients

Sex: All

Ages: Under 6 months old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Premature infants <1500 g
• Mother consenting to provide breast milk or use of donor breast milk

Exclusion criteria

• Infants with major congenital malformations
• Infants with medical conditions precluding them from having breast milk
• Mothers with medical conditions that preclude them form providing breast milk
• Insufficient breast milk supply
• Refusal of donor breast milk
• Mother is non-English speaking

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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3 participants in 2 patient groups

Control group (standard fortification)

No Intervention group

Description:

Breast milk will be fortified standard with Similac Human Milk Fortifier 1 packet: 50 ml breast milk at 50ml/kg/day enteral feeds, then 1 packet:25 ml breast milk at 75 ml/kg/day. As feedings are advanced to goal of 150 ml/kg/day, the TPN and SMOF lipids (Fat Emulsion Comprised of Soy Oil, Medium Chain Triglycerides, Olive Oil, and Fish Oil) will be decreased per standard management and NICU guidelines.

Intervention group (targeted fortification)

Experimental group

Description:

Breast milk will be fortified standard with Similac Human Milk Fortifier 1 packet: 50 ml breast milk at 50ml/kg/day enteral feeds, then 1 packet:25 ml breast milk at 75 ml/kg/day. During this time, as the volume decreases, the TPN and SMOF lipids will be optimized to provide a goal of 4 g/kg/day of protein, and 100-130kcal/kg/day. At 100 ml/kg/day of enteral feeds additional liquid protein and/or microlipids will be added to the breast milk to provide goal of 4 g/kg/day of protein and 100-130 kcal/kg/day. This will be determined by analysis of the milk and reported composition. They will continue targeted fortification for 4 weeks after achieving full feeds of 150 ml/kg/day. Breast milk analysis will occur on a weekly basis immediately after birth for all infants enrolled in the study.

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: Targeted Fortification

Device: The Miris Human Milk Analyzer