A recent retrospective study explores the effects of an exclusive human milk diet (EHMD) on the short-term growth of very preterm infants, or those born before 32 weeks of gestation. The research aims to clarify the controversial outcomes associated with EHMD, focusing on key growth metrics such as weight, length, and head circumference.
The study, “The impact of exclusive human milk diet on short-term growth of very preterm infants,” was published by the Journal of Perinatology. EHMD was linked to slower length growth, particularly in infants born at or after 28 weeks or those exposed to hypertensive disorders during pregnancy. However, the study found that fortifying the EHMD resulted in improved weight gain and comparable growth in length and head circumference to those on a non-EHMD, suggesting that a fortified EHMD can sustain adequate growth while avoiding exposure to cow’s milk.
The lead investigator of the study was Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine (KPSOM) faculty member Fu-Sheng Chou, MD, PhD, FAAP, Clinical Associate Professor of Clinical Science. Dr. Chou’s collaborator was KPSOM faculty member Ashwini Lakshmanan, MD, MS, MPH, FAAP, Associate Professor of Health Systems Science. Coauthors were Lindsey Thompson, MS, MPH, IBCLC, KPSOM Director of Health Systems Science Research Operations, Maria Fe B. Villosis, MD, KPSOM Clinical Assistant Professor of Clinical Science, and Karine Barseghyan, KPSOM Clinical Assistant Professor of Clinical Science.
“It is our vision to better inform neonatal care and promote the long-term well-being of prematurely born children by taking a data-driven approach,” said Dr. Chou. “The unique healthcare system at Kaiser Permanente allows us to correlate care delivery not only with short-term neonatal outcomes but also with long-term childhood outcomes. We plan to continue following this group of infants until they all reach early childhood to investigate whether an exclusive human milk diet offers long-term cardiometabolic and neurodevelopmental benefits.”
