Background: Parenteral nutrition, with protein as the cornerstone, is of utmost priority for preterm infants since enteral nutrition is initially difficult, risking detrimental effect on their nitrogen balance, growth, gut maturity, and overall health. Its best method of delivery is still a mystery.
Objective: In this study, the effects of two alternative parenteral protein administration regimens on anthropometric measurements, hospital stay duration, duration of oxygen reliance, time to achieve goal enteral intake and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) incidence, and mortality are compared.
Subjects and methods: In this randomized control trial, 40 preterm newborns weighing less than 1600 grams were included. According to the initial dose and increment of parenteral protein, they were split randomly into 2 groups: group 1 (high protein) received 3 gm/kg/day on the first day of life and 4 gm/Kg/day on the second day of life, and group 2 (low protein) received 1 gm/kg/day beginning on the first day of life and increasing daily by 1 g/kg up to a maximum of 4 g/kg/day.
Results: Both groups resulted in comparable growth rates evidenced by their anthropometric measures, incidence of NEC, the duration of oxygen reliance, and the time it took for group 1 patients to meet their target enteral intake and to be discharged were slightly reduced. (P-value= 0.181 &0.455, respectively).
Conclusion: Both protein delivery routes produced equivalent effects, however high parenteral protein administration starting on day 1 may reduce hospital stays and aid in achieving full enteral intake sooner than low protein administration.