Early nutritional intake influences the serum levels of nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor in preterm newborns.

Introduction: Parenteral nutrition (PN) may have detrimental effects on neurodevelopment in preterm newborns. Moreover, enteral nutrition (EN) seems to be protective. To understand the mechanisms of how neurological development can be influenced by the route of administration of nutritional intake, we investigated the relationship between the serum levels of the nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nutritional intake received in early life by preterm newborns. Materials and methods: Specimens of blood were obtained at 28 days of life (DOL) for NGF/BDNF determination in neonates <32 weeks of gestation and/or with birth weight <1,500 g, consecutively observed in the neonatal intensive care unit. We analyzed the relation between amino acid content and energy intake and NGF/BDNF measurements at 28 DOL. PN protein intake was referred to as the total amounts of amino acid intake received daily. Results: We enrolled 20 newborns (gestational age 30.45 ± 1.76 weeks, birth weight 1,340 ± 352.63 g). Serum NGF value at 28 DOL was positively correlated with enteral protein and energy intake (r = 0.767; r = 0.746, p < 0.001), whereas, negatively correlated with parenteral amino acid and energy intake (r = -0.652, p < 0.001; r = -0.466, p < 0.05). Similar significant correlations were described between BDNF level at 28 DOL and enteral energy intake (r = 0.493, p < 0.05). Multivariate regression analysis showed that NGF level at 28 DOL depends on enteral protein and energy intake administrated in the 1st week of life. Conclusion: Neurotrophin values varied according to the route of nutrition administration in preterm newborns. NGF/BDNF serum levels are influenced positively and negatively by EN and PN, respectively.

Effects of early energy intake on neonatal cerebral growth of preterm newborn: an observational study.

Current guidelines for preterm newborns recommend high energy nutrition soon after birth in order to limit growth retardation. However, long-term effects of this nutritional approach are still debated, and it has been demonstrated that cerebral growth depends on protein intake in early life. A negative impact of early high energy intake by parenteral nutrition (PN) has been reported for patients in critically ill conditions, observed in intensive care unit. We aimed at evaluating the impact of energy intake on cerebral growth in preterm neonates early in life. We included preterm newborns with gestational age < 32 weeks or birth weight (BW) < 1500 g. Measurement of cerebral structures was performed by cranial Ultrasonography (cUS) between 3 and 7 days of life (DOL, T0) and at 28 DOL (T1). We evaluated the relation between energy intake and cerebral growth in the first 28 DOL. We observed in 109 preterm newborns a significant (p < 0.05) negative correlation between energy intake received by PN and right caudate head growth (r = - 0.243*) and a positive correlation between total energy intake and transverse cerebellum diameter (r = 0.254*). Multivariate analysis showed that energy intake administered by enteral nutrition (EN), independently increased growth of left caudate head (ß = 0.227*) and height cerebellar vermis (ß = 0.415*), while PN independently affected growth of both right and left caudate head (ß = - 0.164* and ß = - 0.228*, respectively) and cerebellum transverse diameter (ß = - 0.849*). The route of energy administration may exert different effects on cerebral growth in early life. High energy intake administered through EN seems to be positively correlated to cerebral growth; conversely, PN energy intake results in a poorer cerebral growth evaluated with cUS.

Energy-enhanced parenteral nutrition and neurodevelopment of preterm newborns: A cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: Preterm births are at higher risk for neurodevelopment (NDV) disabilities. To limit long-term consequences, guidelines recommend aggressive parenteral nutrition (PN) soon after birth. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of energy-enhanced PN in the first week of life on long-term NDV in preterm neonates. METHODS: We compared two cohorts of newborns (group A: energy-enhanced PN and group B: energy-standard PN) with different energy intake in the first 7 d of life (DoL) given by PN with the same protein amount, to study the influences of an energy-enhanced PN on NDV at 24 mo of life evaluated with the Bayley Scale of Infant Development-III edition. RESULTS: We analyzed 51 newborns (A: n = 24 versus B: n = 27). The two cohorts were similar in baseline characteristics (gestational age group A 29 wk, 95% confidence interval [CI], 28-30 wk versus group B 29 wk, 95% CI, 28-30 wk; birth weight A: 1214 g, 95% CI, 1062-1365 g versus B 1215 g, 95% CI, 1068-1363 g; boys A 62.5% versus B 55.6%). Infants in cohort B showed significantly (P < 0.05) better gross motor, total scaled, and total composite motor scores (A: 8 (1) versus B 9 (2); A 17 (4) versus B 19 (5); A 91 (12) versus B 97 (15); respectively). Cohort A showed a higher percentage of infants with delayed socioemotional competence (A 30.4% versus B 7.7%, P < 0.05). No differences were found in growth parameters at 24 mo of life. Linear regression analysis showed that socioemotional competence and motor score were negatively associated with energy intake of the first 7 DoL given by PN. CONCLUSIONS: A more aggressive PN strategy results in lower motor score and socioemotional competence performance at 24 mo of life. More caution might be advocated for an energy-enhanced PN protocol, particularly in neonates with lower birth weight, for long-term NDV in preterm neonates.