Early boost: fortifying breast milk sooner may help preterm babies grow better
NCT ID NCT05525585
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study looks at whether adding extra nutrients (fortification) to breast milk earlier (between days 4-7) helps very preterm infants (born 29-33 weeks) grow better and develop a healthier gut compared to waiting until days 10-14. Eighty infants will be randomly assigned to one of two fortification schedules. The main goal is to measure fat-free body mass and gut bacteria diversity.
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 fortifier (added to breast milk)
- What this could lead to
- If early fortification works, it could improve growth and gut health in very preterm infants, reducing feeding problems.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage trial with only 80 infants, so results may not apply to all preterm babies. The intervention is a dietary supplement, not a drug, so benefits may be modest.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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80 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Nov 2022
- Expected to finish
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May 2027
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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1 day to 4 days
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Gestational age 29 to 33 weeks of gestation * Birth weight \< 1800 g * Postnatal age \< 96 hours Exclusion Criteria: * Small for gestational age (\<5th percentile) * Major congenital/chromosomal anomalies * Terminal illness needing withhold or limit support
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama, 35233, United States
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