Importance Smell and taste of food increase food anticipation, activate gut motility, and stimulate digestion and metabolism. Despite poor growth of many preterm infants in neonatal intensive care units, the smell and taste of milk with tube feeding are not generally considered a regular component of care. Objective To determine the effect of smell and taste of milk with tube feeding on weight z scores at discharge from the hospital. Design, Setting, and Participants A randomized, controlled, nonblinded, superiority trial was conducted at 2 perinatal centers between May 9, 2017, and February 1, 2020. Eligible infants (n = 659) were born at less than 29 weeks' postmenstrual age (PMA) and/or with a birth weight of less than 1250 g. Interventions Infants were randomly assigned to receive either the smell and taste of milk with each tube feeding or routine care without the provision of smell and taste of milk. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome was weight z score at discharge from any hospital. Secondary outcomes included anthropometric measures at predefined time points, time to full enteral feeds, and other health outcomes associated with prematurity. Results Of the 658 infants, a total of 396 infants were randomized; some parents had not been approached for consent (n = 144) or declined participation (n = 117), and 1 infant with consent was not randomized. Of the 396 infants, 196 were assigned to the treatment group (51% male; mean [SD] PMA at birth, 27.5 [2.2] weeks) and 200 were assigned to the control group (52% male; mean [SD] PMA at birth, 27.6 (2.3) weeks). Mean weight z scores at discharge were -0.87 (95% CI, -1.02 to -0.72) for the treatment group and -0.97 (95% CI, -1.11 to -0.83) for the control group (P = .40). The mean difference in z scores between the treatment and control groups at 36 weeks' PMA was 0.21 (95% CI, 0.01 to 0.4; P = .04) for head circumference and 0.26 (95% CI, 0.05 to 0.51; P = .04) for length. There were no clinically notable differences between the study groups for any other anthropometric, feeding, or health outcomes. Conclusions and Relevance In this randomized clinical trial, regular smell and taste of milk included with tube feeding did not improve weight at discharge in preterm infants. Secondary outcomes suggest exposure to smell and taste may improve head circumference and length at 36 weeks' PMA, but not at discharge. Regular exposure to the smell and taste of milk is a simple and inexpensive intervention with potential benefits and no apparent adverse effects. Trial Registration anzctr.org.au Identifier: ACTRN12617000583347.

中文翻译：

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早产儿管饲期间对牛奶气味和味道生长的影响：一项随机临床试验。

重要性 食物的气味和味道增加食物的预期，激活肠道蠕动，刺激消化和新陈代谢。尽管许多早产儿在新生儿重症监护病房生长不良，但管饲牛奶的气味和味道通常不被认为是护理的常规组成部分。目的探讨管饲牛奶的气味和味道对出院时体重z评分的影响。设计、设置和参与者 2017 年 5 月 9 日至 2020 年 2 月 1 日期间，在 2 个围产中心进行了一项随机、对照、非盲、优效性试验。符合条件的婴儿 (n = 659) 出生于月经后不到 29 周的年龄(PMA) 和/或出生体重低于 1250 克。干预措施 婴儿被随机分配在每次管饲时接受牛奶的气味和味道，或在不提供牛奶气味和味道的情况下接受常规护理。主要结果和措施 主要结果是从任何医院出院时的体重 z 评分。次要结果包括在预定时间点的人体测量指标、完全肠内营养的时间以及与早产相关的其他健康结果。结果 658 名婴儿中，共有 396 名婴儿被随机分组​​；一些父母没有得到同意（n = 144）或拒绝参与（n = 117），1名同意的婴儿没有被随机分配。在 396 名婴儿中，196 名被分配到治疗组（51% 男性；出生时平均 [SD] PMA，27.5 [2.2] 周），200 名被分配到对照组（52% 男性；平均 [SD] PMA出生，27.6 (2. 3周）。治疗组出院时的平均体重 z 评分为 -0.87（95% CI，-1.02 至 -0.72），对照组为 -0.97（95% CI，-1.11 至 -0.83）（P = .40）。在 36 周的 PMA 时，治疗组和对照组之间 z 评分的平均差异为 0.21（95% CI，0.01 至 0.4；P = 0.04），头围为 0.26（95% CI，0.05 至 0.51；P = . 04) 长度。对于任何其他人体测量、喂养或健康结果，研究组之间没有临床上的显着差异。结论和相关性 在这项随机临床试验中，管饲中包含的规律的牛奶气味和味道并未改善早产儿出院时的体重。次要结果表明，在 36 周的 PMA 时，接触气味和味觉可能会改善头围和长度，但在出院时不会。定期接触牛奶的气味和味道是一种简单且廉价的干预措施，具有潜在的益处，并且没有明显的副作用。试用注册 anzctr.org.au 标识符：ACTRN12617000583347。