Protein Requirements of Infants: 3. The Nutrition of Premature Infants

Abstract

The nutrition of 203 premature infants was studied, noting the wt. gain, serum protein and Hb levels. These premature infants were able to assimilate diets containing 120 calories and 6g. of protein/kg./day. The avg. rate of gain in wt. by infants with birth wt. over 3.5 lbs. did not vary with the diets used. A group of infants of birth wt. under 3.5 lbs. who received lower intake of calories and/or protein failed to gain at a so-called "standard" rate. Severe anemia was rarely found in the babies observed in this study. The minimum requirements of food for premature infants cannot be estimated from knowledge at present available.