Circadian-Synchronized Breast Milk Feeding and Sleep in Preterm Infants: A Multicenter Randomized… (NCT07645677) | Clinical Trial Compass
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Circadian-Synchronized Breast Milk Feeding and Sleep in Preterm Infants: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial
China120 participantsStarted 2026-06-01
Plain-language summary
This clinical trial aims to find out whether a circadian-synchronized breast milk feeding approach can help improve sleep in preterm infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
The study mainly aims to answer the following questions:
Can this feeding approach improve sleep in preterm infants? Can this feeding approach help preterm infants develop more regular sleep patterns compared with routine breast milk feeding?
Researchers will compare a feeding approach that tries to match the time when breast milk was expressed with the time when the baby is fed, with routine breast milk feeding, to see whether this method can improve sleep in preterm infants.
Participants will:
Be randomly assigned to 1 of 2 groups: circadian-synchronized breast milk feeding or routine breast milk feeding.
Receive the assigned feeding approach for at least 2 weeks during the study. Have one 12-hour continuous sleep monitoring session at 37 weeks of corrected age.
Have changes in different sleep states recorded and analyzed during the study, so that sleep patterns can be compared between the 2 groups.
Who can participate
Age range
0 Days
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:
Preterm infants born between 28 and 36 weeks of gestation Have reached full enteral feeding Written informed consent signed by a legal guardian
Exclusion Criteria:
Need invasive respiratory support, such as endotracheal intubation Use of sedatives or other medications that may affect the central nervous system or sleep rhythm
Presence of diseases or abnormalities that may affect normal feeding or sleep behavior, including:
Congenital anomalies, such as neurologic or chromosomal abnormalities Congenital gastrointestinal malformations or anorectal malformations Conditions affecting digestion or absorption, such as diarrhea, intestinal obstruction, or necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) Critical illnesses such as patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), neonatal sepsis, neutropenia, or coagulation disorders
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
1
Active Sleep to Quiet Sleep Ratio (AS:QS Ratio) at 37 Weeks of Corrected Gestational Age
Timeframe: During a 12-hour monitoring period at 37 weeks of corrected gestational age
Trial details
NCT IDNCT07645677
SponsorShanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine