CompletedNot Applicable

Donor Human Milk and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in Very Low Birthweight (VLBW) Infants

United States121 participantsStarted 2009-08

Plain-language summary

Breastfeeding is an important health-promoting behavior. Human milk is the ideal diet for all infants, optimizes intellect, and provides protection against infectious and atopic diseases in childhood as well as decreasing risks for obesity, hypertension and other chronic diseases. Infants with the highest risk of life-long disability, very low birthweight (VLBW) preterm infants, are breastfed at some of the lowest rates in the US. Maternal milk is not always available, and pasteurized donor human milk is an alternative that requires investigation. Whether donor milk conveys health and developmental advantages similar to those bestowed by maternal milk is unknown. By determining the effects of donor milk on health and developmental outcomes when compared to preterm infant formula, the investigators seek to optimize outcomes in this fragile population. The hypothesis of our donor milk research is that a donor human milk diet in non-maternal milk fed VLBW infants is associated with better neurodevelopmental outcome scores at 18-22 months adjusted age than a preterm infant formula diet.

Who can participate

Age range

24 Months

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * \<1501 g weight at birth Exclusion Criteria: * chromosomal anomalies * congenital heart disease * congenital disorders known to impair neurodevelopment

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Cognitive scale score of the Bayley Scales of Infant Development, III

Timeframe: 18 - 22 months' adjusted age

Trial details

NCT IDNCT01232725

SponsorTarah T Colaizy

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2014-12

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Neurodevelopmental Outcomes of VLBW Infants trials