Abstract：OBJECTIVE: Parenteral nutrition (PN) is widely used in the management of low birth weight infants. There are great differences between China and the foreign countries in the PN administration methods. The conventional PN method in China is to administer amino acids 48 hrs after birth, and the fat emulsion, 72 hrs after birth. However, the data from overseas centers have indicated that early PN (started at the first day of life) is safe and more beneficial to the premature infant. This study aimed to compare the effects of the two methods on nutrition states and the incidence of complication associated with PN. METHODS: Forty low birth weight premature infants who were intolerant to total enteral nutrition, with a gestational age of less than 36 weeks and a birth weight of less than 1 600 g, were chosen for this study. They were randomly assigned into two groups: Conventional PN group and Early PN group (n=20 each). The body weight, the amount of caloric intake,the time taken to attain of full enteral nutrition, and the incidence of complication were recorded daily. Serum prealbumin concentrations were measured on the 1st, 3rd and 7th days after birth. RESULTS: The caloric intake in the first week and daily weight gain in the first two weeks in the Early PN group were much greater than those of the Conventional PN group (P<0.001). On the first day, there was no difference in the serum prealbumin concentration between the two groups. However serum prealbumin concentration increased on the 3rd day(61±11.2 mg/L)and on the 7th day (91.5±10.8 mg/L)in the Early PN group compared with those in the Conventional PN group(31.5±8.5 mg/L and 78±10.9 mg/L respectively)(P<0.001).The time taken for the two groups to go on full enteral nutrition was similar. No significant difference was observed in the incidence of complication between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Caloric intake and body weight gain were found to be greater in the Early PN group than in the Conventional PN group in low birth weight premature infants. The incidence of complication associated with PN and the initiation of gastro-intestinal function are unrelated to the PN administration method.
BAI Xue-Mei,LIU Zheng-Juan,LI Shu-Jun et al. Comparison of two parenteral nutrition methods in low birth weight premature infants[J]. CJCP, 2005, 7(4): 325-328.
