The proposed study will investigate if milk immunobiology and volume are associated with enteral health, skin immunity and clinical outcomes in very preterm infants (750 to 1500 gm). Human milk may play a moderating role in the multiple risks these vulnerable infants face, yet the total volume of human milk preterm infants receive is extremely variable. In the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) where the study will be performed, only 40% of infants are discharged receiving any human milk at all, and this is not atypical. Little is known about the essential components of preterm mother's milk and whether there may be some components that are critically involved in the most optimal infant outcomes. One hundred maternal-infant dyads will be recruited, with the expectation that at least 75 will continue through the study, and studied for 6-weeks of their stay in the NICU. At each feeding a very small sample will be aliquoted from the milk mothers provide before it is mixed with formula and supplement. These aliquots will be pooled and analyzed weekly with a multiplex panel for cytokines, chemokines and growth factors. Secretory Immunoglobulin A concentration will also be assayed. Exact recordings of each feeding, in terms of volume, volume of human milk, and volume of formula and fortifiers will be done. In addition, weekly stool samples will be collected from diapers for a weekly analysis of fecal calprotectin, known to be an early marker of enteral pathophysiology. Skin immunity will be assessed as a potential biomarker of immunocompetency through the use of a small tape applied to the forehead, then removed and assayed for a panel of skin immune components and cytokines by multiplex assay. Other clinical outcomes will include time to oral feeding, weight gain, time to discharge, and any significant adverse health outcomes such as infections or necrotizing enterocolitis. This will be the first careful study that will provide a computation of human milk factors and volumes across a NICU stay and a measurement of relationships to infant health, biomarkers and clinical outcomes. It will provide effect sizes for important relationships about which we currently know so little.

Public Health Relevance

This project will study the relationships between human milk immunity and milk volume with clinical outcomes and immune and enteral biomarkers in preterm infants while hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)
Type
Exploratory/Developmental Grants (R21)
Project #
1R21NR013094-01A1
Application #
8305914
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-NRCS-G (08))
Program Officer
Tigno, Xenia
Project Start
2012-03-06
Project End
2014-02-28
Budget Start
2012-03-06
Budget End
2013-02-28
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$224,000
Indirect Cost
$74,000
Name
University of South Florida
Department
Type
Schools of Nursing
DUNS #
069687242
City
Tampa
State
FL
Country
United States
Zip Code
33612
D'Agata, Amy L; Roberts, Mary B; Ashmeade, Terri et al. (2018) Novel method of measuring chronic stress for preterm infants: Skin cortisol. Psychoneuroendocrinology 102:204-211
Groer, Maureen; Ashmeade, Terri; Duffy, Allyson et al. (2016) Changes in the Immune Components of Preterm Human Milk and Associations With Maternal and Infant Characteristics. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs 45:639-48
Baumgartel, Kelley L; Groer, Maureen W; Cohen, Susan M et al. (2016) Effect of Promoter Polymorphisms on Cytokine Concentration in Preterm Breast Milk and Subsequent Infant Outcomes. J Hum Lact 32:425-37
Groer, Maureen; Ashmeade, Terri; Louis-Jacques, Adetola et al. (2016) Relationships of Feeding and Mother's Own Milk with Fecal Calprotectin Levels in Preterm Infants. Breastfeed Med 11:207-12
Ho, T T B; Groer, M W; Luciano, A A et al. (2015) Red blood cell transfusions increase fecal calprotectin levels in premature infants. J Perinatol 35:837-41
Morse, Shannon; Groer, Maureen; Shelton, Melissa M et al. (2015) A Systematic Review: The Utility of the Revised Version of the Score for Neonatal Acute Physiology Among Critically Ill Neonates. J Perinat Neonatal Nurs 29:315-44; quiz E2
Groer, Maureen; Duffy, Allyson; Morse, Shannon et al. (2014) Cytokines, Chemokines, and Growth Factors in Banked Human Donor Milk for Preterm Infants. J Hum Lact 30:317-323