Vegetable oil fortified feeds in the nutrition of very low birthweight babies
Vaidya, U.V.; Hegde, V.M.; Bhave, S.A.; Pandit, A.N.
Indian Pediatrics 29(12): 1519-1527
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-6061 PMID: 1345325 Document Number: 331296
During a period of 12 months, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) rich safflower oil and medium chain triglyceride (MCI) rich coconut oil were added to the feeds of 46 very low birth weight (VLBW) babies (birth weight of 1250-1500 g) to see if such a supplementation could augment their weight gain. In the safflower oil fortification group, 22 babies completed the study, and in the coconut oil fortification group, 24 did. 22 babies who received no fortification served as controls. The oil fortification raised the energy density of the feeds from approximately 67 kcal/dl to 79 kcal.dl. Feed volumes were restricted to a maximum of 200 ml/kg/day. 3 babies of the safflower oil group and 2 each of the 2 other groups developed loose motions, but they all survived and completed the study. The diarrhea in the safflower oil group was related to addition of oil exceeding 0.5 ml and responded to discontinuation of oil. An increase in serum triglyceride values was seen in all 3 study groups, but the increase in the coconut oil group was significantly greater than the increase in the controls (p 0.05). The mean weight gain per day, weight gain per kg per day (19.47 +or- 8.67 g/day or 13.91 g/day), and mean weekly increment in skinfold thickness were significantly greater in the coconut oil group as compared to controls (p 0.05). The lead in the weight gain in this group continued in the follow-up period (corrected age, 3 months). Higher weight gain in the safflower oil group (13.26 +or- 6.58 g/day) as compared to the controls (11.59 +or- 5.33 g/day) failed to reach statistical significance, probably because of increased steatorrhea (stool fat 4+ in 50% of the samples tested). The differences in the 2 oil groups presumably occurred because of better absorption of MCI rich coconut oil. The technique of oil fortification is fraught with dangers because of aspiration and contamination. Accordingly, such fortification should be used in selected situations only, rather than as a routine nursery policy.