Early Enteral Feeding for Preterm or Low Birth Weight Infants: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

CONTEXT Early enteral feeding has been associated with adverse outcomes such as necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm and low birth weight infants. OBJECTIVES To assess effects of early enteral feeding initiation within the first days after birth compared to delayed initiation. DATA SOURCES Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL from inception to June 30, 2021. STUDY SELECTION Randomized trials (RCTs) were included. Primary outcomes were mortality, morbidity, growth, neurodevelopment, feed intolerance, and duration of hospitalization. DATA EXTRACTION Data were extracted and pooled with random-effects models. RESULTS We included 14 randomized controlled trials with 1505 participants in our primary analysis comparing early ( CONCLUSIONS Enteral feeding within 72 hours after birth likely reduces the risk of mortality and length of hospital stay, may reduce the risk of sepsis, and may reduce weight at discharge.