Table 4 Changes in head circumference for the breastfed milk (N = 24) and formula-fed (N = 17) moderate-late preterm Nigerian infants, as well as per sex total and according to sex, from the start of the study (age 2 weeks) till the age of 10 weeks of age.

From: Growth and micronutrient status parameters of Nigerian preterm infants consuming preterm formula or breastmilk

Parameter

Formula-fed N = 17

Breastmilk-fed N = 24

P valuea

Head circumference at age 2 weeks

    All

30.88 ± 1.50

30.00 (2.00)

30.63 ± 1.35

31.00 (1.00)

0.634

    Boys

30.13 ± 1.13

30.00 (2.00)

31.25 ± 1.75

31.00 (2.75)

0.161

    Girls

31.56 ± 1.51

32.00 (2.00)

30.31 ± 1.01

30.50 (1.00)

0.037

Head circumference at age 10 weeks

    All

37.18 ± 1.29

36.50 (2.50)

36.88 ± 1.42

37.00 (2.00)

0.361

    Boys

36.50 ± 1.20

36.50 (2.50)

37.63 ± 1.77

37.50 (3.25)

0.234

    Girls

37.78 ± 1.09

38.00 (1.00)

36.50 ± 1.10

37.00 (1.75)

0.017

% Head Circumference growth from 2 to 10 weeks of age

20%

20%

  1. Data were in part non-parametric and thus presented as mean ± SD as well as median (IQR).
  2. The average increases in HC (cm/week) during the study were not different between groups (formula-fed: 0.79 ± 0.09, breastmilk-fed: 0.78 ± 0.11 cm/week) and higher than the median growth value (0.58 cm/week) as reported for 35–42 weeks postconceptional age.13
  3. aMann–Whitney U-test.
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