Can extra protein help tiny preemies grow stronger?

NCT ID NCT02943746

Completed Disease control Sponsor: Baylor College of Medicine Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study looked at whether giving very low birth weight premature infants (under 1000 grams) a high-protein diet helps them grow longer and build more lean muscle compared to a standard protein diet. The researchers used an exclusive human milk diet with added protein fortifier. The goal is to improve growth and body composition in these fragile babies.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: human milk protein fortifier
What this could lead to: If it works, this could improve growth and body composition in extremely premature infants, potentially leading to better long-term health outcomes.
What could go wrong: This is a small, completed study with 118 infants, so results may not apply to all premature babies. The high-protein diet may not significantly improve growth or could cause digestive issues.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Get updates

Get notified about this study

Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for PREMATURE INFANTS are added.

Our safety recommendation!

By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use

Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Premature Birth

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

PREMATURE INFANTS

Contacts and locations

Locations

Baylor College of Medicine / Texas Children's Hospital

Houston, Texas, 77030, United States

More trials for these conditions

Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.