detrimental to the LBW preterm infant.
In a meta-analysis of eight trials comparing formula
milk versus donor breast milk for feeding preterm or
low birth weight infants published in Cochrane database,
enteral feeding with formula milk compared with donor
breast milk resulted in higher rates of growth in the short
term. There was no evidence of an effect on long-term
growth rates or neurodevelopmental outcomes. Metaanalysis
of data from five trials demonstrated a
statistically significantly higher incidence of necrotising
enterocolitis in the formula fed group [17]. In a separate
meta-analysis published in Cochrane database by the
authors of same group, they have commented that
maternal breast milk remains the default choice of enteral
nutrition because observational studies and metaanalyses
of trials comparing feeding with formula milk
versus donor breast milk, suggest that feeding with breast
milk has major non-nutrient advantages for preterm or
low birth weight infants [18]. It is to be noted that there
are no data from randomised trials offormula milk versus
maternal breast milk for feeding preterm or low birth
weight infants