Application of current enteral nutrition support recommendations to infants born less than 750 grams or less than 25 weeks' gestation: A critical review

Abstract

Clinicians face a paucity of evidence‐based recommendations for provision of enteral nutrition in infants born <750 g or <25 weeks’ gestation, termed “nano‐preterm.” Current enteral nutrition recommendations for extremely low birth weight infants may not be broadly applicable to nano‐preterm infants due to physiological and developmental differences, while others may be appropriate. Key enteral nutrition‐related considerations include: the unique anatomy and physiology of the gastrointestinal tract, altered metabolic capacity, availability of maternal milk and use of alternative substrates, detailed methods of initiation and advancement of enteral feeding, methods of human milk fortification, targeted requirements for macronutrient and micronutrients, and the safety and efficacy of enteral nutrition support management to optimize the growth and development of the nano‐preterm infant. This comprehensive review focused on enteral nutrition provision in nano‐preterm infants, thoroughly evaluating available literature and identifying knowledge gaps about the unique physiology and metabolism of the nano‐preterm infant as it pertains to enteral nutrition. Ultimately, prospective multicenter research is needed to establish evidence‐based guidelines to promote optimal growth and development while minimizing complications of extreme prematurity.