Evidence and unknowns for the relevancy of applying current parenteral nutrition support recommendations among infants born less than 750 g or younger than 25 weeks' gestation: A narrative review

With advancements in neonatal care, the viability of extremely low-birth-weight (ELBW) infants, especially those born extremely preterm, is increasing. However, specific recommendations for managing parenteral nutrition (PN) support in nanopreterm infants (<750 g or <25 weeks' gestation) are lacking. We aim to evaluate current recommendations and highlight considerations for applying them to nanopreterm infants. The author team used English-language articles related to nutrition in ELBW with emphasis on nanopreterm infants, along with studies on fetal growth and metabolism. Current PN support recommendations for ELBW infants may not suit nanopreterm infants due to physiological and developmental differences. Key considerations for nanopreterm infants include:

This review highlights the limitations of available PN support recommendations for nanopreterm infants. Further research is needed to establish precise guidelines that optimally meet their nutrition needs.