Exclusive human milk diet reduces incidence of severe intraventricular hemorrhage in extremely low birth weight infants

Objective Compare the incidence of severe (grade III/IV) intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) and/or periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) between two groups of ELBW infants based on diet until 34 weeks corrected gestational age (CGA): (1) Exclusive human milk (EHM)-mother's own and/or pasteurized donor human milk, human milk-derived fortifier, and oral care with colostrum/human milk vs. (2) non-EHM-bovine formula or mother's own milk with bovine-derived fortifier. Study design Retrospective observational study of two groups of ELBW infants based on diet until 34 weeks CGA. Result There weren = 306 infants, 127 EHM and 179 non-EHM. Demographics and morbidities were similar except higher antenatal steroids and NEC in EHM group. The rate of severe IVH/PVL was lower in EHM compared to non-EHM group (7 vs. 18%,p < 0.006). Conclusion EHM diet had an independent neuroprotective effect and was associated with decreased incidence of severe IVH/PVL, supporting the need of EHM in ELBW infants.