Lactoferrin supplementation for very preterm infants

Lactoferrin is a key component of the mammalian innate immune response. Infants born very preterm are relatively deficient in lactoferrin and may benefit from supplementation. Preliminary evidence suggests that bovine lactoferrin supplementation might prevent late-onset invasive infection and its associated mortality and morbidity. In the UK, the ELFIN Trial Investigators Group is undertaking a large, simple and pragmatic randomised controlled clinical trial to test this hypothesis.

Paula Jenkins, James Griffiths on behalf of the ELFIN Trial Investigators Group