As control group, a group of full-term newborns (FTNs) born in the same period were selected. Newborns with congenital malformations, chromosomal disorders, or genetic disorders were excluded, as well as newborns of diabetic mothers. Newborn small or large for gestational age were also excluded. Informed consent was

obtained from all parents of the assessed newborns. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Hospital Universitário da USP. During this period, 42 newborns (17 PTNs and 25 FTNs) were selected. VRT752271 price Fourteen newborns (three PTNs and 11 PTNs) were excluded due to: failure to complete follow-up (ten), diagnosis of severe heart disease (one) malnutrition (one), lack of informed consent (one), and inadequate DXA assessment (one). After exclusions, 28 newborns were evaluated: 14 PTNs (nine males and five females); and 14 FTNs (ten males and four females). The PTNs had a mean gestational age of 28.4 to 32.0 weeks (mean 31.1) and FTNs,

of 38 to 41.8 weeks (mean 40.1). Birth weight of the PTNs ranged from 1,115 g to 2,130 g (mean 1,540 g), and in FTNs, from 2,900 g to 3,700 g (mean 3,260 g). All had weight between the 10th and 90th percentiles of the reference curve of Alexander et al.16 According to the reference values of BMC for PTNs and FTNs, the estimated variability is approximately 6.5 g (SD = 6.5 g) at 40 weeks of corrected age.2 Assuming S3I-201 ic50 a difference in BMC between PTNs and FTNs is found at 6-months of follow-up of at least 7 g (with the initial difference being 10 g between the two groups), an improvement of at least 30% in PTNs should be expected, with an 80% power and 95% confidence. Based on this calculation, the sample required to perform the study would be 14 patients in each group. Risk factors for inadequate mineralization (pathologies and medications) found in pre-term infants were sepsis with positive blood cultures, which was observed in 28.5%; necrotizing enterocolitis (Bell’s criteria) with clinical therapy, Baricitinib which was seen in 14.3%; and bronchopulmonary

dysplasia (requiring oxygen therapy for 28 days or more), observed in 35.7%. Of total PTNs with bronchopulmonary dysplasia, three received hydrochlorothiazide and two, furosemide. Eleven received parenteral nutrition; two for less than one week, and nine for between one week and one month, with 12 days as the mean duration of parenteral nutrition. Enteral feeding was introduced on the first day of life. During hospitalization in the neonatal unit, all PTNs received human milk, both their own mother’s milk and milk from the University Hospital bank. Only four of the seven preterm infants with birth weight < 1,500 g received human milk supplemented with an additive (FM85®) in pumped breast milk or pasteurized human milk and administered by orogastric tube or cup.