Dose Comparison of Amino Acids on Growth in Premature Neonates

NCT ID: NCT00120926

Last Updated: 2006-09-28

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

PHASE3

Total Enrollment

150 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2005-08-31

Study Completion Date

2006-06-30

Brief Summary

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Malnutrition is a common problem in the neonatal intensive care unit. Recent studies indicate that prematurely born neonates commonly develop a severe nutritional deficit during the first weeks after birth, referred to as extrauterine growth restriction. Despite an increase in growth during the second month of hospitalization, many neonates are ultimately discharged home having grown inadequately. The early nutritional deficit affects weight gain as well as growth in length and head circumference.

Growth measurements such as weight, length, and head circumference, however, are macroscopic measures of nutritional status and underestimate the physiologic consequences of prolonged nutritional deprivation. Energy and micronutrient deficiencies alter growth at a cellular and tissue level before macroscopic measures are altered. In the brain, for instance, energy is required for cell division and neuronal growth, glial cell function, and myelination. Energy deprivation may consequently alter neuronal function and growth, resulting in adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes.

Immunocompetence also appears to be sensitive to the untoward effects of energy and nutritional deficiency. Malnourished neonates often exhibit immune deficiencies related to inadequate protein intake that compound an already immature immune system. Such immunodeficiency results in susceptibility to infectious agents that creates substantial morbidity and mortality to the course of intensive care for premature infants.

A recent study suggests that postnatal malnutrition and growth restriction are inevitable if current recommended dietary intakes are followed. Multicenter studies show that variation in dietary intake accounts for 45% of the variation in growth. Hence, efforts have focused on determining whether nutritional deficiency and the observed growth restriction of premature infants can be prevented through the use of more optimal nutritional intake. In addition, inadequate protein support may be a primary cause for growth failure.

Based on animal studies showing high in utero amino acid flux observed during the latter phase of gestation, Thureen et al have suggested the use of higher doses of amino acid supplementation in order to minimize growth restriction and improve outcomes of premature infants. However there are no large human trials that demonstrate that this approach promotes better growth or that it is safe. While small doses of amino acids may be inadequate to promote normal growth, high doses may lead to elevated serum amino acid levels and increase the occurrence of toxicity. Through the implementation of a multicenter, randomized trial and tandem mass spectrometry, the investigators propose to evaluate the effects of two distinct strategies of amino acid supplementation on serum amino acid profiles and growth of premature infants during the first 28 days of life.

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Malnutrition

Keywords

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Premature neonate Parenteral nutrition Growth Amino Acids Nutrition

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

DOUBLE

Interventions

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Parenteral Nutrition

Intervention Type DRUG

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Documentation of informed consent
* Inborn
* Gestational age between 23 weeks and 0/7 days and 29 weeks and 6/7 days
* If subject is transferred to another hospital, the ability to obtain follow-up data on outcomes
* No major anomalies
* Ability to begin parenteral nutrition within the first 48 hours after birth

Exclusion Criteria

* Outborn
* Gestational age \< 23 weeks or \>= 30 weeks
* Any major congenital anomalies
Minimum Eligible Age

0 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

48 Hours

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Pediatrix

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Principal Investigators

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Reese Clark, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc.

Locations

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McLeod Regional Medical Center

Florence, South Carolina, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

References

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Thureen PJ, Melara D, Fennessey PV, Hay WW Jr. Effect of low versus high intravenous amino acid intake on very low birth weight infants in the early neonatal period. Pediatr Res. 2003 Jan;53(1):24-32. doi: 10.1203/00006450-200301000-00008.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 12508078 (View on PubMed)

Amari S, Shahrook S, Namba F, Ota E, Mori R. Branched-chain amino acid supplementation for improving growth and development in term and preterm neonates. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2020 Oct 2;10(10):CD012273. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD012273.pub2.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 33006765 (View on PubMed)

Kelleher AS, Clark RH, Steinbach M, Chace DH, Spitzer AR; Pediatrix Amino-Acid Study Group. The influence of amino-acid supplementation, gestational age and time on thyroxine levels in premature neonates. J Perinatol. 2008 Apr;28(4):270-4. doi: 10.1038/jp.2008.5. Epub 2008 Feb 21.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 18288119 (View on PubMed)

Steinbach M, Clark RH, Kelleher AS, Flores C, White R, Chace DH, Spitzer AR; Pediatrix Amino-Acid Study Group. Demographic and nutritional factors associated with prolonged cholestatic jaundice in the premature infant. J Perinatol. 2008 Feb;28(2):129-35. doi: 10.1038/sj.jp.7211889. Epub 2007 Dec 6.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 18059467 (View on PubMed)

Clark RH, Chace DH, Spitzer AR; Pediatrix Amino Acid Study Group. Effects of two different doses of amino acid supplementation on growth and blood amino acid levels in premature neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit: a randomized, controlled trial. Pediatrics. 2007 Dec;120(6):1286-96. doi: 10.1542/peds.2007-0545.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 18055678 (View on PubMed)

Related Links

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Other Identifiers

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PDX05-001

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id