LLLI Center for Breastfeeding Information

Journal Abstract of the Month for January 2003

"Donor human milk versus formula for preventing necrotising enterocolitis in preterm infants: systematic review" by W. McGuire and M.Y. Anthony. Archives of Disease in Childhood Fetal and Neonatal Edition 2003,88:F11-F14

Necrotising enterocolitis is the most common gastrointestinal emergency in premature infants, and is usually diagnosed when the infant is in the neonatal intensive care unit. The mortality rate ranges between 20-30%, with and additional 30% who require surgical intervention and survive.

This meta-analysis examined four trials from 20 years ago to determine the relative risk of necrotising enterocolitis in infants fed human donor milk as compared to artificial formula. Infants who received donor human milk were three times less likely to develop NEC, and four times less likely to have confirmed NEC than infants who had received artificial formula.

It is suggested that larger trials comparing growth, development, and the incidence of NEC and other adverse outcomes be conducted for preterm infants.

This article will be categorized using the following keywords: NEC, Prematures, Formula Concerns, Human Milk/Storage, Processing, Donor Milk.