BabyGrowth
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The relationships between nutrition and body make-up
IRAS ID
321413
Contact name
Mark Turner
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Liverpool
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 10 months, 1 days
Research summary
The best approach to nutrition in very preterm infants (VPI) is controversial and involves human and/or formula milk together with other nutritional supplements. Understanding the healthiest growth pattern for VPI is also complex and needs to consider factors affecting long term health such as the proportion of body fat or the strength of bones. The latter involves metabolic bone disease of prematurity (MDBP) a complication involving nearly all VPI and caused by poor bone structure and mineralisation (calcium and phosphate content in the bone). While MBDP has been reduced in severity by phosphate supplementation, the difficulties in getting calcium supplementation right is an increasing problem. This requires regular blood test monitoring but this is invasive and a poor measure of total body calcium (99% stored in bone).
Bioactive Impedance Analysis (BIA) is a new methodology, using a device recently licensed in VPI that allows many aspects of body composition to be measured including total body calcium. BIA measurement is quick and non-invasive meaning that even very sick infants can be assessed daily. We will undertake an observational study in VPI receiving both human and/or formula milk feeds together with any supplements determined by local neonatal feeding guidelines. The aim of the study is to use BIA measurement to compare total body calcium trends in human and formula fed infants. We will collect routine clinical information about their growth, nutrition intake and blood tests. We will undertake daily BIA measurements to assess their body composition including total body calcium. When VPI reach their due date we will use a Peapod (device using air displacement plethysmography) which is a recognised accurate measure of neonatal body fat. This will help validate BIA findings but can only be used in stable, recovered VPI and does not measure calcium.
REC name
Wales REC 5
REC reference
23/WA/0352
Date of REC Opinion
28 Feb 2024
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion