Milk Feed Osmolality and Adverse Events in Newborn Infants and Animals

Understanding the safety of milk feed osmolality is critical in neonatal nutrition, particularly for preterm and low birthweight infants. This peer-reviewed systematic review examines evidence from both human and animal studies to determine whether variations in milk feed osmolality are linked to adverse gastrointestinal events, such as feeding intolerance, delayed gastric emptying, or necrotising enterocolitis (NEC). The review analyses data from 10 human and 6 animal studies, considering osmolality ranges from natural human milk to fortified and formula-based feeds. Findings suggest no consistent evidence that feed osmolality within 300–500 mOsm/kg increases gastrointestinal risk, though very high osmolality levels (>539 mOsm/L) may impact tolerance in some cases.

Key Benefits for Healthcare Professionals

This resource offers valuable, evidence-based insights to help you:

• Understand current research on the relationship between feed osmolality and neonatal gastrointestinal health

• Evaluate clinical outcomes related to gastric emptying, feeding tolerance, and NEC incidence

• Recognise the influence of feed composition in interpreting osmolality effects

• Apply safe osmolality ranges when fortifying human milk or using preterm formulas

• Inform neonatal feeding strategies using both human and animal model evidence

Download the Full Publication

Click “View Content” or download the publication directly on our page to access the complete peer-reviewed article from a trusted scientific source. Inside the resource, you will find detailed data, expert interpretation, and clinical implications to support your practice.