THE FALLACY OF “CATCH-UP” GROWTH IN PREMATURE INFANTS

Nutrient Needs for Catch-Up Growth in Low-Birthweight Infants.

Growth restriction among low-birthweight (LBW) infants occurs prenatally as well as postnatally. Regardless of when and how the growth restriction occurs, growth-restricted infants have the potential for catch-up growth. Catch-up growth has decidedly beneficial effects on later cognition. It also may have adverse effects on cardiovascular and metabolic health. Although the benefits for later co...

Catch-up Growth

Catch-up growth.

Catch-up growth, defined as growth velocity above the statistical limits of normality for age or maturity during a defined period of time, is distinguished from compensatory growth since it makes up for a potential loss rather than an actual loss and is seen in the whole body as opposed to specific organs. The cellular explanation for catch-up based on the work of Winick is described and a rece...

Nutritional Problems and Catch-Up Growth in Infants with Intrauterine Growth Retardation

In the past, it was common practice to relate low birthweight to prematurity. However, a number of environmental, maternal, placental, and fetal factors have been recognized as causing intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) in babies who are small-for-gestational-age (SGA). In the more affluent societies, one-third of the low birthweight babies are SGA. Yet in communities where protein-energy m...

Nutritionally-Induced Catch-Up Growth

Malnutrition is considered a leading cause of growth attenuation in children. When food is replenished, spontaneous catch-up (CU) growth usually occurs, bringing the child back to its original growth trajectory. However, in some cases, the CU growth is not complete, leading to a permanent growth deficit. This review summarizes our current knowledge regarding the mechanism regulating nutrition a...