Nutrition and growth in infants born preterm from birth to adulthood

Prevention of extra-uterine growth retardation is of extreme importance, as the achievement of adequate growth has been associated with a favorable neurodevelopmental outcome through childhood. In addition, as disturbances in growth that take place early in life may affect adult health, a full understanding of the growth trajectory of very-low-birth-weight infants is also advisable. This review will focus attention on the nutritional strategies proposed during hospital admission and after discharge in order to limit extra-uterine growth retardation in preterm infants. The dynamic changes that characterize growth of infants born preterm from birth up to adulthood will also be addressed.