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Objective
To assess the efficacy and safety of early parenteral lipid and high-dose amino acid (AA) administration from
birth onwards in very low
birth weight (VLBW,
birth weight <1500 g) infants.
Study design
VLBW infants (n = 144; birth weight 862 ¡À 218 g; gestational age 27.4 ¡À 2.2 weeks) were randomized to receive 2.4 g of AA kg?1¡¤d?1 (control group), or 2.4 g AA kg?1¡¤d?1 plus 2-3 g lipids kg?1¡¤d?1 (AA + lipid group), or 3.6 g AA kg?1¡¤d?1 plus 2-3 g lipids kg?1¡¤d?1 (high AA + lipid group) from birth onwards. The primary outcome was nitrogen balance. The secondary outcomes were biochemical variables, urea rate of appearance, growth rates, and clinical outcome.
Results
The nitrogen balance on day 2 was significantly greater in both intervention groups compared with the control group. Greater amounts of AA administration did not further improve nitrogen balance compared with standard AA dose plus lipids and was associated with high plasma urea concentrations and high rates of urea appearance. No differences in other biochemical variables, growth, or clinical outcomes were observed.
Conclusions
In VLBW infants, the administration of parenteral AA combined with lipids from birth onwards improved conditions for anabolism and growth, as shown by improved nitrogen balance. Greater levels of AA administration did not further improve the nitrogen balance but led to increased AA oxidation. Early lipid initiation and high-dose AA were well tolerated.
