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Christians JK, Ahmadzadeh-Seddeighi S, Bilal A, Bogdanovic A, Ho R, Leung EV, MacGregor MA, Nadasdy NM, Principe GM. Sex differences in the effects of prematurity and/or low birthweight on neurodevelopmental outcomes: systematic review and meta-analyses. Biol Sex Differ 2023; 14:47. [PMID: 37434174 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-023-00532-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Premature birth and/or low birthweight have long-lasting effects on cognition. The purpose of the present systematic review is to examine whether the effects of prematurity and/or low birth weight on neurodevelopmental outcomes differ between males and females. METHODS Web of Science, Scopus, and Ovid MEDLINE were searched for studies of humans born premature and/or of low birthweight, where neurodevelopmental phenotypes were measured at 1 year of age or older. Studies must have reported outcomes in such a way that it was possible to assess whether effects were greater in one sex than the other. Risk of bias was assessed using both the Newcastle-Ottawa scale and the National Institutes of Health Quality assessment tool for observational cohort and cross-sectional studies. RESULTS Seventy-five studies were included for descriptive synthesis, although only 24 presented data in a way that could be extracted for meta-analyses. Meta-analyses found that severe and moderate prematurity/low birthweight impaired cognitive function, and severe prematurity/low birthweight also increased internalizing problem scores. Moderate, but not severe, prematurity/low birthweight significantly increased externalizing problem scores. In no case did effects of prematurity/low birthweight differ between males and females. Heterogeneity among studies was generally high and significant, although age at assessment was not a significant moderator of effect. Descriptive synthesis did not identify an obvious excess or deficiency of male-biased or female-biased effects for any trait category. Individual study quality was generally good, and we found no evidence of publication bias. CONCLUSIONS We found no evidence that the sexes differ in their susceptibility to the effects of severe or moderate prematurity/low birthweight on cognitive function, internalizing traits or externalizing traits. Result heterogeneity tended to be high, but this reflects that one sex is not consistently more affected than the other. Frequently stated generalizations that one sex is more susceptible to prenatal adversity should be re-evaluated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian K Christians
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada.
- Centre for Cell Biology, Development and Disease, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada.
- British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
- Women's Health Research Institute, BC Women's Hospital and Health Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
| | | | - Alishba Bilal
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Anastasia Bogdanovic
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Rebecca Ho
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Molecular Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Estee V Leung
- Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Megan A MacGregor
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Nolan M Nadasdy
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
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Adie S, Griffin XL, Harris IA, Gorelik A, Chang WJ. Surgical (percutaneous pinning or plate fixation) versus non-surgical interventions for distal radius fractures in adults: an individual participant data review. Hippokratia 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd014933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sam Adie
- School of Clinical Medicine; UNSW Medicine & Health; UNSW Sydney Australia
| | | | - Ian A Harris
- School of Clinical Medicine; UNSW Medicine & Health; UNSW Sydney Australia
| | - Alexandra Gorelik
- Monash-Cabrini Department of Musculoskeletal Health and Clinical Epidemiology; Cabrini Health; Malvern Australia
- Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine; Monash University; Melbourne Australia
| | - Wei-Ju Chang
- Centre for Pain IMPACT; Neuroscience Research Australia; Randwick Australia
- School of Health Sciences, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing; The University of Newcastle; Callaghan Australia
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Lin L, Gamble GD, Crowther CA, Bloomfield FH, Agosti M, Atkinson SA, Biasini A, Embleton ND, Fewtrell MS, Lamy-Filho F, Fusch C, Gianni ML, Kanmaz Kutman HG, Koo W, Litmanovitz I, Morgan C, Mukhopadhyay K, Neri E, Picaud JC, Rochow N, Roggero P, Singhal A, Stroemmen K, Tan MJ, Tandoi FM, Wood CL, Zachariassen G, Harding JE. Sex-Specific Effects of Nutritional Supplements for Infants Born Early or Small: An Individual Participant Data Meta-Analysis (ESSENCE IPD-MA) I-Cognitive Function and Metabolic Risk. Nutrients 2022; 14:418. [PMID: 35276786 PMCID: PMC8838132 DOI: 10.3390/nu14030418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Revised: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Neonatal nutritional supplements are widely used to improve growth and development but may increase risk of later metabolic disease, and effects may differ by sex. We assessed effects of supplements on later development and metabolism. We searched databases and clinical trials registers up to April 2019. Participant-level data from randomised trials were included if the intention was to increase macronutrient intake to improve growth or development of infants born preterm or small-for-gestational-age. Co-primary outcomes were cognitive impairment and metabolic risk. Supplementation did not alter cognitive impairment in toddlers (13 trials, n = 1410; adjusted relative risk (aRR) 0.88 [95% CI 0.68, 1.13]; p = 0.31) or older ages, nor alter metabolic risk beyond 3 years (5 trials, n = 438; aRR 0.94 [0.76, 1.17]; p = 0.59). However, supplementation reduced motor impairment in toddlers (13 trials, n = 1406; aRR 0.76 [0.60, 0.97]; p = 0.03), and improved motor scores overall (13 trials, n = 1406; adjusted mean difference 1.57 [0.14, 2.99]; p = 0.03) and in girls not boys (p = 0.03 for interaction). Supplementation lowered triglyceride concentrations but did not affect other metabolic outcomes (high-density and low-density lipoproteins, cholesterol, fasting glucose, blood pressure, body mass index). Macronutrient supplementation for infants born small may not alter later cognitive function or metabolic risk, but may improve early motor function, especially for girls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luling Lin
- Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland 1023, New Zealand; (L.L.); (G.D.G.); (C.A.C.); (F.H.B.)
| | - Greg D. Gamble
- Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland 1023, New Zealand; (L.L.); (G.D.G.); (C.A.C.); (F.H.B.)
| | - Caroline A. Crowther
- Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland 1023, New Zealand; (L.L.); (G.D.G.); (C.A.C.); (F.H.B.)
| | - Frank H. Bloomfield
- Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland 1023, New Zealand; (L.L.); (G.D.G.); (C.A.C.); (F.H.B.)
| | - Massimo Agosti
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Woman and Child Department, Ospedale Del Ponte, Insubria University, 21100 Varese, Italy; (M.A.); (F.M.T.)
| | - Stephanie A. Atkinson
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, Canada; (S.A.A.); (C.F.); (N.R.)
| | - Augusto Biasini
- Donor Human Milk Bank Italian Association (AIBLUD), 20126 Milan, Italy;
| | - Nicholas D. Embleton
- Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4AX, UK;
| | - Mary S. Fewtrell
- Childhood Nutrition Research Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London WC1N 1EH, UK;
| | - Fernando Lamy-Filho
- Departamento de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Maranhão (UFMA), São Luís 65080-805, MA, Brazil;
| | - Christoph Fusch
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, Canada; (S.A.A.); (C.F.); (N.R.)
- Department of Pediatrics, Nuremberg General Hospital, Paracelsus Medical University, 90471 Nuremberg, Germany
| | - Maria L. Gianni
- Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Via Commenda 12, 20122 Milan, Italy; (M.L.G.); (P.R.)
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Via Commenda 19, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | | | - Winston Koo
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA;
| | - Ita Litmanovitz
- Department of Neonatology, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba 44281, Israel;
| | - Colin Morgan
- Department of Neonatology, Liverpool Women’s Hospital, Liverpool L8 7SS, UK;
| | - Kanya Mukhopadhyay
- Department of Pediatrics, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh 160012, India;
| | - Erica Neri
- Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, 40100 Bologna, Italy;
| | - Jean-Charles Picaud
- Division of Neonatology, Hôpital de la Croix-Rousse, Hospices Civils de Lyon, 69004 Lyon, France;
- CarMen Laboratory, INSERM, INRA, Claude Bernard University Lyon 1, 69677 Pierre Benite, France
| | - Niels Rochow
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, Canada; (S.A.A.); (C.F.); (N.R.)
- Department of Pediatrics, Nuremberg General Hospital, Paracelsus Medical University, 90471 Nuremberg, Germany
| | - Paola Roggero
- Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Via Commenda 12, 20122 Milan, Italy; (M.L.G.); (P.R.)
| | - Atul Singhal
- Department of Nutrition, Institute of Child Health, London WC1N 1EH, UK;
| | - Kenneth Stroemmen
- Department of Neonatal Intensive Care, Division of Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Rikshospitalet, Oslo University Hospital, 0310 Oslo, Norway;
| | - Maw J. Tan
- Department of Developmental Paediatrics, Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool L12 2AP, UK;
| | - Francesco M. Tandoi
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Woman and Child Department, Ospedale Del Ponte, Insubria University, 21100 Varese, Italy; (M.A.); (F.M.T.)
| | - Claire L. Wood
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK;
| | - Gitte Zachariassen
- H.C. Andersen Children’s Hospital, Odense University Hospital and University of Southern Denmark, 5000 Odense, Denmark;
| | - Jane E. Harding
- Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland 1023, New Zealand; (L.L.); (G.D.G.); (C.A.C.); (F.H.B.)
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Lin L, Gamble GD, Crowther CA, Bloomfield FH, Agosti M, Atkinson SA, Biasini A, Embleton ND, Lamy Filho F, Fusch C, Gianni ML, Kutman HGK, Koo W, Litmanovitz I, Morgan C, Mukhopadhyay K, Neri E, Picaud JC, Rochow N, Roggero P, Stroemmen K, Tan MJ, Tandoi FM, Wood CL, Zachariassen G, Harding JE. Sex-Specific Effects of Nutritional Supplements for Infants Born Early or Small: An Individual Participant Data Meta-Analysis (ESSENCE IPD-MA) II: Growth. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14020392. [PMID: 35057573 PMCID: PMC8781781 DOI: 10.3390/nu14020392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Revised: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Neonatal nutritional supplements may improve early growth for infants born small, but effects on long-term growth are unclear and may differ by sex. We assessed the effects of early macronutrient supplements on later growth. We searched databases and clinical trials registers from inception to April 2019. Participant-level data from randomised trials were included if the intention was to increase macronutrient intake to improve growth or development of infants born preterm or small-for-gestational-age. Co-primary outcomes were cognitive impairment and metabolic risk. Supplementation did not alter BMI in childhood (kg/m2: adjusted mean difference (aMD) -0.11[95% CI -0.47, 0.25], p = 0.54; 3 trials, n = 333). Supplementation increased length (cm: aMD 0.37[0.01, 0.72], p = 0.04; 18 trials, n = 2008) and bone mineral content (g: aMD 10.22[0.52, 19.92], p = 0.04; 6 trials, n = 313) in infancy, but not at older ages. There were no differences between supplemented and unsupplemented groups for other outcomes. In subgroup analysis, supplementation increased the height z-score in male toddlers (aMD 0.20[0.02, 0.37], p = 0.03; 10 trials, n = 595) but not in females, and no significant sex interaction was observed (p = 0.21). Macronutrient supplementation for infants born small may not alter BMI in childhood. Supplementation increased growth in infancy, but these effects did not persist in later life. The effects did not differ between boys and girls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luling Lin
- Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland 1023, New Zealand; (L.L.); (G.D.G.); (C.A.C.); (F.H.B.)
| | - Greg D. Gamble
- Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland 1023, New Zealand; (L.L.); (G.D.G.); (C.A.C.); (F.H.B.)
| | - Caroline A. Crowther
- Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland 1023, New Zealand; (L.L.); (G.D.G.); (C.A.C.); (F.H.B.)
| | - Frank H. Bloomfield
- Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland 1023, New Zealand; (L.L.); (G.D.G.); (C.A.C.); (F.H.B.)
| | - Massimo Agosti
- NICU, Woman and Child Department, Ospedale Del Ponte, Insubria University, 21100 Varese, Italy; (M.A.); (F.M.T.)
| | - Stephanie A. Atkinson
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4L8, Canada; (S.A.A.); (C.F.); (N.R.)
| | - Augusto Biasini
- Donor Human Milk Bank Italian Association (AIBLUD), 20126 Milan, Italy;
| | - Nicholas D. Embleton
- Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4AX, UK;
| | - Fernando Lamy Filho
- Departamento de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Maranhão (UFMA), São Luís 65080-805, Brazil;
| | - Christoph Fusch
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4L8, Canada; (S.A.A.); (C.F.); (N.R.)
- Department of Pediatrics, Nuremberg General Hospital, Paracelsus Medical University, 90471 Nuremberg, Germany
| | - Maria L. Gianni
- Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Via Commenda 12, 20122 Milan, Italy; (M.L.G.); (P.R.)
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Via Commenda 19, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | | | - Winston Koo
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA;
| | - Ita Litmanovitz
- Department of Neonatology, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba 4428164, Israel;
| | - Colin Morgan
- Department of Neonatology, Liverpool Women’s Hospital, Liverpool L8 7SS, UK;
| | - Kanya Mukhopadhyay
- Department of Pediatrics, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh 160012, India;
| | - Erica Neri
- Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy;
| | - Jean-Charles Picaud
- Division of Neonatology, Hôpital de la Croix-Rousse, Hospices Civils de Lyon, 69004 Lyon, France;
- CarMen Laboratory, INSERM, INRA, Claude Bernard University Lyon 1, 69310 Pierre Benite, France
| | - Niels Rochow
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4L8, Canada; (S.A.A.); (C.F.); (N.R.)
- Department of Pediatrics, Nuremberg General Hospital, Paracelsus Medical University, 90471 Nuremberg, Germany
| | - Paola Roggero
- Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Via Commenda 12, 20122 Milan, Italy; (M.L.G.); (P.R.)
| | - Kenneth Stroemmen
- Department of Neonatal Intensive Care, Division of Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Rikshospitalet, Oslo University Hospital, 0188 Oslo, Norway;
| | - Maw J. Tan
- Department of Developmental Paediatrics, Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool L12 2AP, UK;
| | - Francesco M. Tandoi
- NICU, Woman and Child Department, Ospedale Del Ponte, Insubria University, 21100 Varese, Italy; (M.A.); (F.M.T.)
| | - Claire L. Wood
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4AX, UK;
| | - Gitte Zachariassen
- H.C. Andersen Children’s Hospital, Odense University Hospital and University of Southern Denmark, 5000 Odense, Denmark;
| | - Jane E. Harding
- Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland 1023, New Zealand; (L.L.); (G.D.G.); (C.A.C.); (F.H.B.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +64-99236439
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Fenton TR, Nasser R, Creighton D, Elmrayed S, Tang S, Gillis C, Alshaikh B. Critical examination of relationships between early growth and childhood overweight in extremely preterm infants. J Perinatol 2021; 41:2774-81. [PMID: 34404924 DOI: 10.1038/s41372-021-01182-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Revised: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To identify the prevalence and risk factors for childhood overweight and obesity (OWO) at 3-year corrected age in children born <1500 g <29 weeks gestation. STUDY DESIGN A multicentre retrospective cohort study for preterm infants admitted to neonatal intensive care units between 2001 and 2014. RESULTS Data were available for 911 (89.4%) of the 1019 infants who met the inclusion criteria. Of them, 22 (2.4%) had OWO. There were no associations between OWO and being small for gestational age (RR = 1.3, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.3-5.4) or weight <10th percentile at 36 weeks (RR = 1.1, 95% CI: 0.4-2.8). OWO was associated with low maternal education (RR = 7.4, 95% CI: 2.1-26), maternal diabetes (RR = 5.2, 95% CI: 1.9-15) and neonatal brain injury (RR = 4.9, 95% CI: 1.8-14). Adjusting for concurrent child weight at 3 years of age resulted in an overadjustment bias. CONCLUSION Small size at birth or at 36 weeks gestation in extremely preterm infants is not associated with increased risk of early childhood overgrowth or obesity. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NCT03064022.
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Tottman AC, Oliver CJ, Alsweiler JM, Cormack BE. Do preterm girls need different nutrition to preterm boys? Sex-specific nutrition for the preterm infant. Pediatr Res 2021; 89:313-7. [PMID: 33184497 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-020-01252-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Revised: 10/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Boys born preterm are recognised to be at higher risk of adverse outcomes than girls born preterm. Despite advances in neonatal intensive care and overall improvements in neonatal morbidity and mortality, boys born preterm continue to show worse short- and long-term outcomes than girls. Preterm birth presents a nutritional crisis during a critical developmental period, with postnatal undernutrition and growth-faltering common complications of neonatal intensive care. Furthermore, this preterm period corresponds to that of rapid in utero brain growth and development, and the developmental window relating to foetal programming of adult non-communicable diseases, the prevalence of which are associated both with preterm birth and sex. There is increasing evidence to show that from foetal life, boys and girls have different responses to maternal nutrition, that maternal breastmilk composition differs based on foetal sex and that early neonatal nutritional interventions affect boys and girls differently. This narrative review examines the evidence that sex is an important moderator of the outcomes of preterm nutrition intervention, and describes what further knowledge is required before providing nutrition intervention for infants born preterm based on their sex. IMPACT: This review examines the increasing evidence that boys and girls respond differently to nutritional stressors before birth, that maternal breastmilk composition differs by foetal sex and that nutritional interventions have different responses based on infant sex. Boys and girls born preterm are given standard nutritional support which does not take infant sex into account, and few studies of neonatal nutrition consider infant sex as a potential mediator of outcomes. By optimising early nutrition for boys and girls born preterm, we may improve outcomes for both sexes. We propose future studies of neonatal nutritional interventions should consider infant sex.
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Lin L, Amissah E, Gamble GD, Crowther CA, Harding JE. Impact of macronutrient supplements on later growth of children born preterm or small for gestational age: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised and quasirandomised controlled trials. PLoS Med 2020; 17:e1003122. [PMID: 32453739 PMCID: PMC7250404 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1003122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2019] [Accepted: 04/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nutritional supplements may improve short-term growth of infants born small (preterm or small for gestational age), but there are few data on long-term effects and concerns that body composition may be adversely affected. Effects also may differ between girls and boys. Our systematic review and meta-analysis assessed the effects of macronutrient supplements for infants born small on later growth. METHODS AND FINDINGS We searched OvidMedline, Embase, Cochrane CENTRAL, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews from inception to January 30, 2020, and controlled-trials.com, clinicaltrials.gov, and anzctr.org.au on January 30, 2020. Randomised or quasirandomised trials were included if the intention was to increase macronutrient intake to improve growth or development of infants born small and growth was assessed after discharge. Primary outcome was body mass index (BMI) in childhood. Data were pooled using random-effect models. Outcomes were evaluated in toddlers (< 3 years), childhood (3 to 8 years), adolescence (9 to 18 years), and adulthood (>18 years). Forty randomised and 2 quasirandomised trials of variable methodological quality with 4,352 infants were included. Supplementation did not alter BMI in childhood (7 trials, 1,136 children; mean difference [MD] -0.10 kg/m2, [95% confidence interval (CI) -0.37 to 0.16], p = 0.45). In toddlers, supplementation increased weight (31 trials, 2,924 toddlers; MD 0.16 kg, [0.01 to 0.30], p = 0.03) and length/height (30 trials, 2,889 toddlers; MD 0.44 cm, [0.10 to 0.77], p = 0.01), but not head circumference (29 trials, 2,797 toddlers; MD 0.15 cm, [-0.03 to 0.33], p = 0.10). In childhood, there were no significant differences between groups in height (7 trials, 1,136 children; MD 0.22 cm, [-0.48 to 0.92], p = 0.54) or lean mass (3 trials, 354 children; MD -0.07 kg, [-0.98 to 0.85], p = 0.88), although supplemented children appeared to have higher fat mass (2 trials, 201 children; MD 0.79 kg, [0.19 to 1.38], p = 0.01). In adolescence, there were no significant differences between groups in BMI (2 trials, 216 adolescents; MD -0.48 kg/m2, [-2.05 to 1.08], p = 0.60), height (2 trials, 216 adolescents; MD -0.55 cm, [-2.95 to 1.86], p = 0.65), or fat mass (2 trials, 216 adolescents; MD -1.3 5 kg, [-5.76 to 3.06], p = 0.55). In adulthood, there also were no significant differences between groups in weight z-score (2 trials, 199 adults; MD -0.11, [-0.72 to 0.50], p = 0.73) and height z-score (2 trials, 199 adults; MD -0.07, [-0.36 to 0.22], p = 0.62). In subgroup analysis, supplementation was associated with increased length/height in toddler boys (2 trials, 173 boys; MD 1.66 cm, [0.75 to 2.58], p = 0.0003), but not girls (2 trials, 159 girls; MD 0.15 cm, [-0.71 to 1.01], p = 0.74). Limitations include considerable unexplained heterogeneity, low to very low quality of evidence, and possible bias due to low or unbalanced followup. CONCLUSIONS In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we found no evidence that early macronutrient supplementation for infants born small altered BMI in childhood. Although supplements appeared to increase weight and length in toddlers, effects were inconsistent and unlikely to be clinically significant. Limited data suggested that supplementation increased fat mass in childhood, but these effects did not persist in later life. PROSPERO registration: CRD42019126918.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luling Lin
- Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Emma Amissah
- Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | | | | | - Jane E. Harding
- Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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