Hindmilk: a head start in preterm nutrition.

BACKGROUND During the neonatal period, nutrition has a crucial impact on preterm infants' survival, growth and development. Current nutritional practices for preterm infants often fail to meet their nutritional needs and thus have potential adverse consequences for their growth and development. Hindmilk represents a promising avenue to manage this nutritional challenge. METHOD The scientific literature was reviewed to determine the current state of knowledge about hindmilk and its effects on the growth and development of preterm infants. RESULTS Four studies evaluating the effects of hindmilk on the growth of preterm infants were found and included in this review. These studies report contradictory findings and present serious methodological shortcomings, limiting the evidence on the potential benefits of hindmilk in preterm infants. CONCLUSIONS A body of knowledge on the effects of hindmilk on the growth and development of preterm infants is accumulating but there is still a striking need for further investigation.