Abstract
This study reports on the human milk fortification session at the 2019 NEC Society Symposium, which included clinicians and parents discussing the evidence comparing fortification options such as efficacy, safety, cost effectiveness, and the need for parents to be informed about fortifier choice. With the current literature available and the varying standard of care practices for human milk fortification, further studies are needed to determine the most complete diet for preterm infants. The optimal diet would not only provide key nutrients and energy for growth and development, but also improve short- and long-term outcomes. Parents, as advocates and providers for their infant, should be informed, educated, and included in the discussion and decisions regarding fortification of human milk for their infant.
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Acknowledgements
Publication of this article was sponsored by the Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC) Society, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, and National Institutes of Health Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and The Texas Children’s Hospital Neonatal Nutrition Research Program.
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A.B.H., J.F., C.G., J.H.K., and S.N.T. made substantial contributions to conception and design, acquisition of data, or analysis and interpretation of data. All authors were involved in drafting the article or revising it critically for important intellectual content and provided final approval of the manuscript.
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A.B.H. received grant support for unrelated studies from Prolacta Bioscience, Fresenius-Kabi, and the Gerber Foundation. J.H.K. received grant support from Mallinckrodt and Fresenius-Kabi, received consultant or advisor fees from Evolve Bioscience, Medela, Alcresta, Ferring, received lecture fees from Mead Johnson Nutrition, Abbott Nutrition, owns shares in Pediasolutions, Nicolette and Astarte Medical, served as expert witness, and holds a patent for a newborn heart rate device. S.N.T. received unrelated grant support from Allen Foundation, National Institute of Health, Mallinckrodt, and Prolacta Bioscience. J.F. and C.G. declared no competing interests.
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Hair, A.B., Ferguson, J., Grogan, C. et al. Human milk fortification: the clinician and parent perspectives. Pediatr Res 88 (Suppl 1), 25–29 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-020-1076-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-020-1076-2
