Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this multi-center study was to compare, in infants ≤1250 g birth weight (BW) with neurodevelopmental assessment at 18-22 months of corrected age (CA), whether their neurodevelopmental outcomes differed based on exposure to an exclusive human milk-based (HUM) or to a bovine milk-based fortifier and/or preterm formula (BOV). STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective multi-center cohort study of infants undergoing neurodevelopmental assessment as to whether HUM or BOV exposure related to differences in outcomes of infants at 18-22 months CA, using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development III (BSID-III). BSID-III cognitive, language, and motor scores were adjusted for BW, sex, study site, and necrotizing enterocolitis. RESULTS: 252 infants from 6 centers were included. BSID-III cognitive scores were higher in the HUM group (96.5 ± 15.1 vs 89.6 ± 14.1, adjusted p = 0.0001). Mean BSID-III language scores were 85.5 ± 15.0 in HUM and 82.2 ± 14.1 in BOV (adjusted p = 0.09). Mean BSID-III motor scores were 92.9 ± 11.7 in HUM and 91.4 ± 14.6 in BOV (adjusted p = 0.32). CONCLUSION: In this cohort of infants undergoing neurodevelopmental assessment, infants receiving HUM diet had significantly higher cognitive BSID-III scores at 18-22 months CA. Further investigation is needed of this potential for HUM to positively influence infant cognitive outcomes.