Trials / Completed
CompletedNCT07399405
Comparison of Nutrient Content Between Preterm and Term Human Milk: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
- Status
- Completed
- Phase
- —
- Study type
- Observational
- Enrollment
- 103 (actual)
- Sponsor
- Sun Yat-sen University · Academic / Other
- Sex
- Female
- Age
- —
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
Summary
The purpose of this study is to thoroughly evaluate nutrient disparities between preterm and term human milk.
Detailed description
Preterm birth (gestational age of less than 37 weeks) is a major global health issue, associated with a high burden of mortality and long-term morbidity. Achieving optimal nutrition is critical for improving outcomes in this vulnerable population. However, the specific nutritional requirements for supporting postnatal growth akin to intrauterine rates are exceptionally high. While human milk is the recommended foundation of nutrition, its unfortified use may not meet these demands, and common alternatives like preterm formula present a balance of potential benefits and risks. Crucially, formulating effective nutritional strategies hinges on a precise understanding of the composition of preterm human milk itself. Existing evidence on this composition, especially regarding micronutrients and their influencing factors, is inconsistent and incomplete. Prior reviews have largely focused on macronutrients, leaving a gap in the synthesized evidence regarding micronutrient levels and their key determinants. Therefore, we performed this systematic review and meta-analysis to quantitatively compare the nutrient profile of preterm and term human milk and to evaluate the influence of factors such as lactation stage on these differences.
Conditions
Interventions
| Type | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| OTHER | observational study | This study is a systematic review and meta-analysis. No intervention is administered to participants. Data regarding human milk composition are extracted and synthesized from previously published observational studies. |
Timeline
- Start date
- 2022-07-06
- Primary completion
- 2024-07-08
- Completion
- 2025-09-12
- First posted
- 2026-02-10
- Last updated
- 2026-04-15
Locations
1 site across 1 country: China
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov record NCT07399405. Inclusion in this directory is not an endorsement.