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MONDAY, September 6, 2021 (HealthDay News) – Breast milk can boost the hearts of premature babies, a groundbreaking study suggests.
“This study … adds to the already known benefits of breast milk for prematurely born infants,” said study director Dr Afif El-Khuffash, clinical professor of pediatrics at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) University. of Medicine and Health Sciences in Dublin.
He said the findings offer the first evidence for a link between early feeding in premature infants and heart function in the first year of life.
Because the heart function of premature infants is significantly lower than that of healthy term babies, they are more likely to develop heart problems later in life, including heart disease, heart failure, systemic high blood pressure, and pulmonary, the researchers said. They also have a higher risk of death from heart disease.
This study of 80 premature newborns found that those initially fed only their mother’s breast milk had improved heart function by age 1, and that it approached the level found in babies born. in good health.
Specifically, premature infants who received large amounts of breast milk in the first few weeks of life had healthier heart structures and functions and a better cardiac stress response at one year of age than premature infants who were received higher amounts of formula.
These improvements were apparent before the babies left the hospital and persisted until the age of 1, according to results published in the journal Aug. 30. JAMA network open.
“Premature infants have abnormal heart function. However, those who are fed their mother’s milk show recovery of their heart function to levels comparable to healthy term infants,” El-Khuffash said. in a college press release. “Formula-fed premature infants do not demonstrate this recovery.”
More information
The American Academy of Pediatrics has more information on the health issues of premature babies.
SOURCE: Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland University of Medicine and Health Sciences, press release, August 30, 2021
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