Impact of Body Composition on Feeding in Large for Gestational Age Infants

Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing FFM-indexed Feeding vs. Standard Feeding in LGA Infants With Oral Feeding Difficulty and Disproportionate Body Composition.

Not applicable Interventional Nemours Children's Clinic · NCT04599010

This study is testing if a special feeding plan based on body composition can help Large for Gestational Age infants with feeding difficulties.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment40 (estimated)
Ages1 Week to 10 Weeks
SexAll
SponsorNemours Children's Clinic Academic / other
Locations2 sites (Orlando, Florida and 1 other locations)
Trial IDNCT04599010 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study investigates how body composition affects oral feeding difficulties in Large for Gestational Age (LGA) infants. Eligible infants will be randomly assigned to receive either a Fat-free mass (FFM)-indexed feeding regimen or standard feeding for up to two weeks. The FFM-indexed approach aims to optimize feeding volumes based on fat-free mass rather than total body weight. Body composition and appetite-regulating hormone levels will be measured at the beginning and end of the intervention, with follow-up assessments for growth and feeding difficulties until six months of age.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are LGA infants born at or after 35 weeks gestation who exhibit oral feeding difficulties and have a fat mass z-score greater than +1.0.

Not a fit: Patients who are on respiratory support, have significant neurological morbidities, or have major congenital anomalies may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could improve oral feeding outcomes for LGA infants, potentially reducing feeding difficulties and enhancing growth.

How similar studies have performed: While this specific approach is innovative, similar studies have shown promise in addressing feeding difficulties in infants through tailored nutritional interventions.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* LGA infants with oral feeding difficulty born at ≥ 35 weeks gestation, with FM z-score \> +1.0 in body composition measurement

Exclusion Criteria:

* Infants on any respiratory support, Infants on enteral feeding duration \> 60 minutes due to hypoglycemia concerns, videofluoroscopic swallow study (VFSS) demonstrating unsafe swallowing function, GI surgical conditions, significant neurological morbidities, and major congenital, genetic syndromes/anomalies

Where this trial is running

Orlando, Florida and 1 other locations

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Body CompositionFeedingDifficult, NewbornNutrition Disorder, Infant
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.