Table 1.

Studies included in the meta-analysis

Reference	Site	Subjects				Reported outcomes
		Preterm	n	Term	n
Anderson et al., 1983 [18]	US	28-36 weeks	14	37-42 weeks	9	E, Pro, fat
Arnold et al., 1987 [130]	Australia	26-33 weeks	6	38-40 weeks	7	Pro, lactose
Atkinson et al., 1980 [15]	Canada	26-33 weeks	13	38-40 weeks	10	Ca, P
Atkinson et al., 1981 [19]	Canada	BW < 1300 g	7	-		E, Pro, lactose, fat
Bejiers et al., 1992 [128]	Netherlands	25.7–30.9 weeks	30	-		Pro
Britton et al., 1986 [137]	US	25-35 weeks	70	38-42 weeks	38	Pro
Butte et al., 1984 [13]	US	< 37 weeks	8	≥ 37 weeks	13	Pro, Ca, P
Butte et al., 1984 [122]	US	-		Term	40	E, Pro, fat
Butte NF et al., 1990 [123]	US	-		39.9 ± 0.9 weeks	40	E, Pro, lactose, fat
Coppa et al., 1993 [140]	Italy	-		Term	46	Lactose, oligo
Coppa et al., 1997 [141]	Italy	27-35 weeks	26	-		Oligo
Corvaglia et al., 2008 [20]	Italy	26-32 weeks	55	37-41 weeks	69	Pro
Cregan MD, 2002 [135]	Australia	31-35 weeks	22	> 38 weeks	16	Pro, lactose
Ehrenkranz et al., 1984 [142]	US	26-33 weeks	21	-		fat
Faerk et al., 2001 [133]	Denmark	< 32 weeks	101	-		Pro
Ferris et al., 1988 [21]	US	-		> 37 weeks	12	Pro, lactose
Garza et al., [124]	US	-		Term	10	E
Gabrielli et al., 2011 [143]	Italy	25-30 weeks	63	-		Lactose, oligo
Gross et al., 1980 [131]	US	28-36 weeks	33	38-42 weeks	18	Pro, lactose, Ca
Guerrini et al., 1981 [144]	Italy	29-37 weeks	25	38-42 weeks	47	fat
Hibberd et al., 1982 [11]	UK, Germany	-		> 37 weeks	10	E, Pro, lactose, fat, Ca
Hosoi et al., 2005 [134]	Japan	-		Term	114	Pro
Hurgoiu et al., 1986 [145]	Romania	27-34 weeks	28	-		Ca
Itabashi et al., 1999 [129]	Japan	26-33 weeks	15	-		Pro, lactose, Ca, P
Lepage et al., 1984 [120]	Canada, US	26-36 weeks	32	> 37 weeks	19	E, Pro
Lemons et al., 1982 [12]	US	27-37 weeks	20	39-41 weeks	7	E, Pro, lactose, fat, Ca, P
Maas et al., 1998 [22]	Netherlands	25-29 weeks	79	-		E, Pro, lactose, fat
Michaelsen et al., 1994 [139]	Denmark	-		37-41weeks	91	Pro, fat, lactose
Montagne et al., 1999 [136]	France	< 37 weeks	46	> 37 weeks	28	Pro
Motil et al., 1997 [125]	US	-		38-42 weeks	10	E, Pro
Nommsen et al., 1991 [127]	US	-		Term	58	E, Pro, fat
Reinken et al., 1985 [132]	Germany	28-33 weeks	16	38-40 weeks	24	Pro
Saarela et al., 2005 [6]	Finland	31.4 ± 3 weeks	36	40.2 ± 1.4 weeks	53	E, Pro, lactose, fat
Sadurskis et al., 1998 [119]	Sweden			Term	23	E
Sanchez-Pozo et al., 1986 [138]	Spain			Term	209	Protein
Sann et al., 1981 [146]	France	26-35 weeks	41	38-41 weeks	61	Pro, lactose, fat, Ca, P,
Schanler et al., 1980 [14]	US	29.7 ± 0.5 weeks	16	-		Pro, Ca
Thomas et al., 1986 [121]	US	30-34 weeks	20	-		E, Pro, lactose, fat
Yamawaki et al., 2005 [23]	Japan	-		BW > 2500 g	1180	Pro, lactose, Ca, P
Viverge et al., 1990 [147]	France	-		Term	15	Lactose, oligo
Wood et al., 1988 [126]	US	-		37-42 weeks	22	E
Total			843		2299

E = energy, Pro = protein, oligo = oligosaccharides, Ca = calcium, P = phosphate, BW = birth weight, g = gram, UK = United Kingdom, US = United States.