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Study identifier: NCT06266455 Synced from ClinicalTrials.gov · July 29, 2026
● Recruiting

Individualized Nutrition to Optimize Preterm Infant Growth and Neurodevelopment

Condition: Very Preterm Maturity of Infant · Very Low Birth Weight Infant  ·  Sponsor: Children's National Research Institute

PhaseNA
Planned participants150
Who can joinAll sexes, N/A to 4 Weeks
Healthy volunteersNo

About this study

Human milk has several well-established benefits but does not adequately meet the increased nutritional demands of the growing preterm infant, necessitating additional nutrient supplementation in a process known as fortification. In U.S. neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), human milk is primarily supplemented using standardized fortification, in which a multicomponent fortifier is added to human milk to achieve assumed nutrient content based on standard milk reference values. However, this method does not account for the significant variability in human milk composition or in preterm infant metabolism, and up to half of all very premature infants experience poor growth and malnutrition using current nutritional practices. Poor postnatal growth has adverse implications for the developing preterm brain and long-term neurodevelopment. Recent advances allow for individualized methods of human milk fortification, including adjustable and targeted fortification. Adjustable fortification uses laboratory markers of protein metabolism (BUN level) to estimate an infant's protein requirements. In targeted fortification, a milk sample is analyzed to determine its specific macronutrient and energy content, with additional macronutrient supplementation provided as needed to achieve goal values. Emerging data suggest that both methods are safe and effective for improving growth, however information on their comparable efficacy and neurodevelopmental implications are lacking, particularl…

This description comes directly from the study's public registry record.

Talk to the study team

Catherine Limperopoulos, Ph.D.  ·  202-476-5293  ·  CLimpero@childrensnational.org

Katherine M. Ottolini, M.D.  ·  202-476-8905  ·  KOttolin@childrensnational.org

Always discuss trial participation with your own doctor first.

Locations (1)

Children's National HospitalWashington D.C., District of Columbia, United StatesRecruiting

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Source record: clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06266455