Journal
PLOS ONE
Volume 12, Issue 9, Pages -Publisher
PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0185632
Keywords
-
Categories
Funding
- Academy of Finland
- University of Helsinki Research Foundation
- Finnish Medical Society Duodecim
- Finska Lakaresallskapet
- Foundation for Pediatric Research in Finland
- Finnish Special Governmental Subsidy for Health Sciences
- Jalmari and Rauha Ahokas Foundation
- Juho Vainio Foundation
- Emil Aaltonen Foundation
- Novo Nordisk Foundation
- Paivikki and Sakari Sohlberg Foundation
- Signe and Ane Gyllenberg Foundation
- Orion-Pharma Foundation
- Sigrid Juselius Foundation
- Finnish National Graduate School of Clinical Investigation
- Hope and Optimism Initiative
- Wilhelm and Else Stockmann Foundation
- Pediatric Graduate School, University of Helsinki
- Novo Nordisk Fonden [NNF15OC0016362] Funding Source: researchfish
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Background Preterm birth (<37 gestational weeks) poses a risk of poorer neurocognitive functioning. Faster growth after preterm birth predicts better cognitive abilities and can be promoted through adequate nutrition, but it remains unknown whether variations in nutrient intakes translate into long-term benefits for neurodevelopment. Methods In 86 participants of the Helsinki Study of Very Low Birth Weight Adults (birthweight < 1500g), we examined if higher intakes of energy, macronutrients, and human milk during the first nine weeks after preterm birth predict performance in tests of cognitive ability at 25.1 years of age (SD = 2.1). Results 10 kcal/kg/day higher total energy intake at 3 to 6 weeks of age was associated with 0.21 SD higher adult IQ (95% Confidence Interval [CI] 0.07-0.35). Higher carbohydrate and fat intake at 3-6 weeks, and higher energy intake from human milk at 3-6 and at 6-9 weeks were also associated with higher adult IQ: these effect sizes ranged from 0.09 SD (95% CI 0.01-0.18) to 0.34 SD (0.14-0.54) higher IQ, per one gram/kg/day more carbohydrate and fat, and per 10 kcal/kg/day more energy from human milk. Adjustment for neonatal complications attenuated the associations: intraventricular hemorrhage, in particular, was associated with both poorer nutrition and poorer IQ. Conclusion In preterm neonates with very low birth weight, higher energy and human milk intake predict better neurocognitive abilities in adulthood. To understand the determinants of these infants' neurocognitive outcome, it seems important to take into account the role of postnatal nutrition, not just as an isolated exposure, but as a potential mediator between neonatal illness and long-term neurodevelopment.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available