Can different types of post-discharge nutrition influence growth and mental development in VLBW infants?

Increasing evidences are rising that there a close relationship among diet in the first year of life and growth (physical+mental) development later on in VLBW infants. "Pre-discharge period" in VLBW has been widely recognized and discussed, whereas "post-discharge period" is still a matter under question. In order to give a contribute, we performed a prospective, randomized and controlled clinical study which main goal was to evaluate the influence of 2 different types of milk feeding given to the babies between the 40th and the 55th week of postconceptional age, on growth and on long term psychomotor development in VLBW (<1500 gr) infants up to 24 months of age Preliminary data relative to 121 VLBW are here presented and discussed.