OBJECTIVETo study the appropriate time of starting enteral nutrition and observe the effects of different enteral nutrition starting times on the digestive function, growth rate, and nosocomial infection rate in very low birth weight infants (VLBWI).

METHODSAll the VLBWI admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit between February and December, 2012 were selected. Depending on different times of starting enteral nutrition, these infants were divided into three groups: ≤ 3 days (n=116), 4-6 days (n=36), and ≥ 7 days (n=26). The effects of different enteral nutrition starting times on digestive function, growth rate and nosocomial infection rate were analyzed.

RESULTSThe ≤ 3 days group had significantly higher milk intake than the other two groups at one week after birth; the ≤ 3 days and 4-6 days group had significantly higher milk intake than the ≥ 7 days group at two and three weeks after birth. The growth rate showed no significant differences between the three groups. The ≤ 3 days group had a significantly shorter time of central venous catheterization than the other two groups, and the ≥ 7 days group had a significantly longer time to full enteral feeding than the other two groups. The nosocomial infection rate of the ≤ 3 days group (13.8%) was significantly lower than that of the ≥ 7 days group (46.2%).

CONCLUSIONSFor VLBWI, the time of starting enteral nutrition has no impact on growth rate, but starting enteral nutrition early can promote the development of gastrointestinal function, increase milk intake, shorten the time to full enteral feeding, reduce the time of central venous catheterization, and significantly reduce nosocomial infection rate.