Macronutrient Supplements in Preterm and Small-for-Gestational-Age Animals: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Amissah, E. and Lin, L. and Gamble, G. D. and Crowther, C. A. and Bloomfield, F. H. and Harding, J. E.

Sci Rep (2019) 9: 14715

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-51295-6

Abstract

Early macronutrient supplementation in preterm and/or small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infants may improve growth but have detrimental effects on later cardio-metabolic health which may be sex-specific. We systematically reviewed the long-term effects of early macronutrient supplementation in preterm and SGA animals and whether these differ by sex. Using Cochrane Neonatal and SYRCLE methodologies we included random or quasi-random studies that allocated non-human mammals to macronutrient supplements or no supplements between birth and weaning and assessed post-weaning outcomes. We used random-effects models to calculate standardized mean differences (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Six studies provided low to very-low-quality evidence that macronutrient supplementation increased weight in juvenile rats (SMD; 95% CI: 2.13; 1.00, 3.25; 1 study, n = 24), increased leptin concentrations in older adults (1.31; 0.12, 2.51; 1 study, n = 14 male rats), but decreased leptin concentrations in young adults (-1.13; -2.21, -0.05; 1 study, n = 16 female rats) and improved spatial learning and memory (qualitative data; 1 study). There was no evidence of sex-specific effects and no overall effect on length, serum lipids, body composition, HOMA-IR, or blood pressure. Macronutrient supplements may affect later growth, metabolism, and neurodevelopment of preterm and SGA animals, but evidence is limited and low quality.

Citation

Amissah, E., Lin, L., Gamble, G. D., Crowther, C. A., Bloomfield, F. H., & Harding, J. E. (2019). Macronutrient Supplements in Preterm and Small-for-Gestational-Age Animals: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Sci Rep, 9(1), 14715. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-51295-6 Animals, Male, Rats, Female, Rats, Sprague-Dawley, Birth Weight, Pregnancy, Body Composition, Models, Animal, *Dietary Supplements, Swine/*growth & development, *Nutrients, Animals, Newborn/growth & development, Cognitive Dysfunction, Sheep/*growth & development, Time

Keywords

• Animals
• Male
• Rats
• Female
• Rats
• Sprague-Dawley
• Birth Weight
• Pregnancy
• Body Composition
• Models
• Animal
• *Dietary Supplements
• Swine/*growth & development
• *Nutrients
• Animals
• Newborn/growth & development
• Cognitive Dysfunction
• Sheep/*growth & development
• Time