Effect of early stage protein intake on growth and behavior of premature infants

Objective To explore effects of the early stage different dietary protein intake on behavior and growth condition of premature. Methods Premature infants were given different nutritional feeding, 65 selected subjects were divided into A group (high protein group, the average daily intake of protein ≥ 3g/kg.d), B group (usual protein, the daily intake of protein ＜3g/kg.d), and was corrected gestational age after 37 weeks, 40 weeks and 7 days, 14days, 28 days with NBNA score. Results With the growing age after birth, two sets of NBNA scores were gradually increased; NBNA scores at 5 time points of A group were higher than those in B group, the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05); two groups had the fastest growth rate while corrected gestational age at 37-40 weeks when, but growth slowed down after the increase with age. Conclusion Early feeding with high protein content to preterm infants can promote their neurobehavioral development, helps to reduce neurological sequelae, and promote its growth. Key words: Premature infant; Protein;  NBNA score;  Behavioral development