Enteral lactoferrin supplementation for very preterm infants: a randomised placebo-controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Infections acquired in hospital are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in very preterm infants. Several small trials have suggested that supplementing the enteral diet of very preterm infants with lactoferrin, an antimicrobial protein processed from cow's milk, prevents infections and associated complications. The aim of this large randomised controlled trial was to collect data to enhance the validity and applicability of the evidence from previous trials to inform practice.

Methods

In this randomised placebo-controlled trial, we recruited very preterm infants born before 32 weeks' gestation in 37 UK hospitals and younger than 72 h at randomisation. Exclusion criteria were presence of a severe congenital anomaly, anticipated enteral fasting for longer

SUBMITTER: ELFIN trial investigators group 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6356450 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature