Sodium May Help Premature Babies In Early Stages

Could sodium help premature babies thrive? Recent findings published in the Journal of Parenteral & Eteral Nutrition found that infants given sodium supplementation typically gained more weight than those who did not receive the same help early on.

For the study, 53 newborns born prematurely at less than 32 weeks of pregnancy were examined. Researchers found that premature infants given early sodium supplementation typically gained weight at a significantly faster rate than those who had lower rates of hypotremia, with no increase in prematurity-related conditions.

Furthermore, researchers noted that the findings were particularly important as they are one of the latest to examine negative neurodevelopmental outcomes and what can result if proper growth intervention is not taken early on.

Previous studies have not delved into the benefits of early sodium supplementation for premature infants. To add to that, many nutritional options for premature infants, including fortified human milk and commercial formulas, are often lacking adequate sodium that can be necessary to help in the beginning stages of life for these children.

Statistics show that in 2012, preterm birth affected more than 450,000 babies-that's 1 of every 9 infants born in the United States. Preterm birth is the birth of an infant before 37 weeks of pregnancy.