Human milk feeding protects very low-birth-weight infants from retinopathy of prematurity: a pre-post cohort analysis.

OBJECTIVES

To examine the effect of early human milk (HM) feeding on the incidence of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) among very low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants.

METHODS

Observational cohort research in a Level III neonatal intensive care unit. A total of 186 infants were enrolled in this pre-post cohort study (114 infants were included in the HM-fed group and 72 in the formula-fed group). ROP, type of feeding (early exclusive HM versus any formula), and potential confounding variables were measured. Differences between groups were explored.

RESULTS

The clinical characteristics of the neonates did not differ between the two groups. By bivariate analysis, HM feeding was associated with 75% lower odds of Stage 2 or 3 ROP (OR = 0.25, 95% CI: 0.091 to 0.705; p = 0.009) At multivariate logistic regression, type of milk feeding retained significance, exclusive HM being protective with p = 0.002.

CONCLUSIONS

This study found an association between early exposure to formula in VLBW infants and ROP. An initial HM diet, devoid of cow milk-containing products before achieving full enteral feeding, may help prevent ROP.