ABSTRACT
We conducted a double-blind, randomized study to test the hypothesis that a whey-dominant formula permits a growth and metabolic advantage over a casein-dominant formula in preterm infants after hospital discharge. Nineteen low birth weight infants were studied for 6 months from the time of discharge. Ten received a casein-dominant formula, and nine received a whey-dominant formula. Growth (weight, length, head circumference, mid-arm circumference, and skin-fold thickness), biochemical measurements (alkaline phosphatase activity, acid-base status, and hemoglobin, serum total protein, albumin, and urea nitrogen levels), and quantity of formula intake did not differ significantly between the groups over a 6-month study period. Serum transthyretin and urea nitrogen concentrations differed significantly between the two feeding groups at the day of entry into the study only. The results indicate that, after hospital discharge, premature infants fed a whey-dominant formula do not differ in growth or biochemical measurements from those fed a casein-dominant formula.
Subject(s)
Caseins/pharmacology , Infant Food , Infant, Premature/growth & development , Milk Proteins/pharmacology , Alkaline Phosphatase/blood , Blood Proteins/analysis , Blood Urea Nitrogen , Double-Blind Method , Energy Intake , Humans , Hydrogen-Ion Concentration , Infant, Low Birth Weight/growth & development , Infant, Low Birth Weight/metabolism , Infant, Newborn , Infant, Premature/metabolism , Prealbumin/analysis , Random Allocation , Whey ProteinsABSTRACT
To establish guidelines for the routine use of diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTP) vaccine in preterm infants, we quantitated antibody responses of preterm infants to DTP and determined the nature and extent of side effects. Twenty-five preterm infants were immunized with 0.5 ml DTP vaccine at routine intervals. Term infants served as controls. Immediately before each immunization and 2 months after the third, DTP-specific antibodies were quantitated. Clinical side effects were determined by parental report. After the second immunization, 100% of preterm infants had evidence of specific antibody production against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis. The incidence of side effects was low, but irritability was significantly more common in preterm infants after the second immunization. These observations suggest that the initiation of primary immunization with DTP in preterm infants need not be delayed beyond 2 months of age.