[The contribution of enteral nutrition in the premature infant]

In recent years, improvements in obstetrical and neonatal care have significantly improved survival in preterm and, particularily, the very low birth weight infant. Several studies stress the importance of timely and adequate nutrition in these high-risk infants on a short- and long-term. Presently, there is little consensus among the neonatologists concerning the optimal way to initiate, advance or maintain enteral feeding in preterm Infants. The preferred food for premature infants is fortified milk from the infant's own mother or,alternatively, formula designed for premature infants. The recent guidelines proposed by ESPGHAN Committee on Nutrition provide minimal and maximal levels of intake for individual macro- and micro-nutrients.