Effect of 100% human milk-derived fortifier on growth of premature infants with birth weight of 1000–1500 g

Background: Preterm birth has the highest risk of perinatal morbidity and mortality. Nutrition plays a key role in the growth and development of a preterm infant. Fortification of expressed breast milk is followed to provide an optimal nutrition and a faster catch up growth. The new 100% human milk-derived fortifier (HMDF) can help in providing a safe nutritional option for a premature infant. Objective: The objective of the study was to assess the feed tolerance and impact of a new 100% HMDF on growth outcomes of preterm infants. Materials and Methods: In a single-center study, exclusively human milk-fed preterm infants (1000–1500 g birth weight) were chosen to receive human milk fortified with a new 100% HMDF. The fortifier was initiated when the enteral feed volume reached 100 ml/kg/day and was administered until discharge. The primary outcome of the study was to assess feed tolerance and the secondary endpoints included growth parameters. Results: The cohort study comprised 13 infants with a mean gestational age of 31.64±2.2 weeks and birth weight of 1314.62±110.1 g. During the study period, feed interruptions were nil and none of the infants showed any adverse events of clinical significance. Growth outcomes recorded at the end of the study period showed a mean weight gain of 25.97±7.7 g/day, mean length gain of 0.32±0.23 cm/week, and mean head circumference gain of 0.39±0.20 cm/week. The mean weight growth velocity of the infants was 18.37±5.1 g/kg/day. Conclusion: Preterm infants who received a new 100% HMDF demonstrated feed tolerance and weight gain without any clinically significant record of adverse events. The findings indicate that the new HMDF is a safe option for providing an exclusive human milk-based diet. However, a study with a larger study population may be required to reinforce the findings of this study

Editorial: saving mothers and babies for the new world

First, where or what is the New World? Historically, this refers to the region of the Americas. In this context, the New World is the future of humankind, an ambiguous borderless phenomenon that is informed and built upon from lessons of its past and from stories of triumph and regrets; of innovations, experiences of the pandemic, economic successes, and failures; of those unwanted wars; and of great science. The New World we envision emphasizes the quintessential of actions to ensure human survivability, by prioritizing equitable care to mothers and babies regardless of their region. Positive outcomes for mothers and babies can only be achieved by ensuring that healthcare professionals are knowledgeable, holistic, ethical, and safe and that effective execution of ethically robust healthcare policies and guidelines for equitable perinatal healthcare is adequately supported. These aims need to be at the forefront of policies of governments across all countries in the New World despite all setbacks. With this in mind, the research topic Saving Mothers and Babies for the New World accepted 16 diverse full-length articles and collected abstracts presented at the 21st Federation of Asia Oceania Perinatal Societies (FAOPS) Congress that provided a wealth of information and science that can help carve future research and inform policies