Abstract
This retrospective study investigated the nutritional status of 12 premature infants with Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD) (n = 7) and without BPD (n = 5) from birth through 24 weeks of age. All infants were less than 33 weeks gestational age at the onset of the study. Maternal and infant demographic data, selected anthropometric measurements, macronutrients, and biochemical data were assessed from the medical records. Mean values, analysis of variance, and Tukey's Pairwise Multiple Comparison tests were used to determine differences between infant groups and between effects of time for each dependent variable. Mean values of body weight, length, and head circumference were significantly higher (p < 0.05) for non-BPD infants at birth, but both groups showed linear growth rate throughout the study period. The BPD group showed significantly greater intake of fluid and fat (p < 0.01) but significantly lower intake of dietary protein and calories (p < 0.05 during the six month study period. Significantly higher (p < 0.05 1 values of blood glucose for the first 12 weeks of study were observed for the BPD group. The significant growth difference between these two groups of premature infants during the first 24 weeks of life suggest that BPD influences nutrient intake and utilization, and affects the rate of growth and development.