Maggio 2005.

Study characteristics
Methods	RCT
Participants	Preterm infants (≤ 34 weeks' gestational age, ≤ 1750 g at birth)
Interventions	Empirical use of partially hydrolysed whey‐based formula* (n = 10) Conventional preterm formula* (n = 11)
Outcomes	Growth rates from inclusion until hospital discharge Feed intolerance (no infants had enteral feeds interrupted)
Notes	Division of Neonatology, Department of Paediatrics, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy Trial dates: 1998 to 2000 * Energy content of both formulas: 75 kcal/100 mL
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias)	Unclear risk	Randomised schedule generated ‐ not specified how
Allocation concealment (selection bias)	Low risk	Sealed opaque envelopes
Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias) All outcomes	Low risk	Study and control formulas identical in colour and smell
Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) All outcomes	Low risk	Study and control formulas identical in colour and smell
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes	Low risk	Outcomes reported for all participants
Selective reporting (reporting bias)	Unclear risk	Protocol not available
Other bias	Unclear risk	Funded by Humana (manufacturer of the trial formula)