Comparison of Two Feeding Methods Based on Behavior and Volume on Blood Sugar in Premature Infants

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Neonatal Health Research Center, Research Institute for Children’s Health, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

2 , Clinical Research Development Center, Mahdiyeh Educational hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

3 Pediatric Congenital Hematologic Disorders Research Center, Research Institute for Childern's Health, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

10.22038/ijn.2026.82173.2582

Abstract

Objective:

This study was designed to compare the blood sugar levels and weight gain in premature infants fed using cue-based feeding versus traditional volume-based feeding. Cue-based feeding relies on infants' behavioral cues, but concerns about hypoglycemia and the infant's inability to wake for feeding present challenges to its implementation.

Patients and Methods:

In this single-blind clinical trial, premature infants with a corrected age of 32 weeks or older, who tolerated full enteral feeding and had discontinued intravenous feeding, were randomly assigned to two groups. The intervention group received cue-based feeding, while the control group was fed based on volume. Weight and blood sugar levels were measured on days 1, 2, 3, and 7 post-intervention.

Results:

Weight gain was significantly higher in the cue-based group compared to the volume-based group on days 1 (2069.46 ± 552.96 vs. 1816.98 ± 239.6 grams, P = 0.007) and 2 (2076 ± 11.42 vs. 1833.85 ± 399.29 grams, P = 0.012). However, no significant differences in weight gain were observed after day 2. Blood sugar levels remained above 60 mg/dL in both groups throughout the study, with no significant differences between them.

Conclusion:

Cue-based feeding was associated with greater weight gain in the initial two days, without compromising blood sugar levels. Further multicenter studies with larger sample sizes are recommended to validate these findings.

Keywords

Iranian Journal of Neonatology

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 09 June 2026

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