Preterm nutrition and brain development

Premature birth puts infants at risk for long-term neurodevelopmental impairments due to the vulnerability of the preterm brain during neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) hospitalization. Complications because of prematurity may be from direct injury to the preterm brain and altered development of the white and grey matter. Nutrition plays a critical role in neurodevelopment, with human milk (HM) being linked to better white and grey matter development corresponding to improved childhood neurological outcomes. Key HM components, like long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) and Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMOs), contribute to these effects. Since HM alone cannot meet the nutritional needs of most preterm infants, fortified milk is commonly used in the NICU. While fortifiers improve growth, their impact on neurodevelopment is still uncertain. Formula enriched with nutrients like LCPUFAs and HMOs and sphingomyelin, as well as higher calorie and lipid contnet, can support brain development. Further research is needed to better understand how nutrition affects preterm brain development and long-term outcomes.