According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 15 million babies are born too early every year. That is more than 1 in 10 babies and this number is rising. Early and adequate nutritional support is critical to achieve appropriate rates of weight gain, which are almost twice that of a term infant. Despite intensive nutritional strategies for premature infants, growth failure remains a major problem. The 96th Nestlé Nutrition Institute workshop focused on the latest scientific knowledge in the area of neonatal care in preterm and low birth weight infants, including human milk oligosaccharides and their potential impact on the health of neonates. Discussed were the best-in-class nutritional strategies to optimize feeding, nutrition and growth in preterm infants during their intensive care period and after discharge from the hospital.
