Enteral L-Arginine and Glutamine Supplementation for Prevention of NEC in Preterm Neonates

Table 1

Clinical characteristics of the 3 studied groups.

	L-Arginine group	Glutamine group	Control group		value
GA (weeks)	27–34; 31.84 ± 2.29	28–34; 31.68 ± 1.35	26–34; 30.64 ± 2.34	: −1.777	0.76
BW (kg)	0.97–1.55; 1.45 ± 0.26	1.16–1.55; 1.45 ± 0.21	0.9–1.6; 1.31 ± 0.25	: −2.02	0.043^*
Age of start of feeding (days)	2.2 ± 1.443	3.68 ± 1.35	1.79 ± 0.79	: −0.89	0.37
	Median (IQ)	Median (IQ)	Median (IQ)
Apgar
(1 min)	6 ()	5 ()	7 ()	: −1.34	0.18
(5 min)	8 ()	8 (1.5)	8 ()	: −0.15	0.88
	(%)	(%)	(%)
Gender
Male	11 (44%)	12 (48%)	11 (44%)	: 0.11	0.95
Female	14 (56%)	13 (52%)	14 (56%)
MOD
CS	18 (72%)	23 (92%)	22 (88%)	: 6.11	0.19
Vaginal	7 (28%)	2 (8%)	3 (12%)
Prolonged PROM	9 (36%)	4 (16%)	4 (16%)	: 3.804	0.149
PDA	5 (20)	6 (24%)	8 (32%)	: 0.987	0.61
Inotropes	6 (24%)	10 (40%)	8 (32%)	: 1.47	0.479
CLD	3 (12%)	2 (8%)	0 (0%)	: 3	0.223
SGA	12 (48%)	11 (44%)	7 (28%)	: 2.33	0.311

GA: gestational age, BW: birth weight, kg: kilogram, CS: caesarean section, MOD: mode of delivery, PROM: premature rupture of membrane, PDA: Patent ductus arteriosus, and CLD: chronic lung disease.
SGA: small for gestational age, ^*significant.
: Mann-Whitney test, : chi square.