Effect of intranasal breast milk administration on cerebral oxygenation, vital signs, and transition time to full oral feeding in preterm infants: a randomized controlled study

weeks. Infants in the intervention group received 0.2 mL of fresh breast milk intranasally three times daily for 3 days. The control group continued to receive routine clinical care. During each intervention period, cerebral oxygenation and vital signs were recorded at baseline (T0), 5 (T1), 15 (T2), and 30 (T3) minutes after the intervention. The time required for preterm infants to achieve full oral feeding was monitored until discharge. Cerebral oxygenation levels of preterm infants who received intranasal breast milk were significantly higher than the control group and respiratory rate was lower at some measurement times. No significant differences were found between groups in oxygen saturation, heart rate, time to full oral feeding, length of hospital stay, vomiting frequency and defecation frequency. CONCLUSION: Intranasal breast milk administration has the potential to increase cerebral oxygenation in preterm infants. The maintenance of oxygen saturation and heart rate, along with good tolerance of the procedure, suggests that this intervention may be safe and feasible. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov on 21 May 2024 (Identifier: NCT06706115). WHAT IS KNOWN: • Intranasal breast milk administration has been reported to have therapeutic potential in improving brain injury in preterm infants. • Intranasal administration of breast milk is known not to cause significant side effects in preterm infants diagnosed with intraventricular hemorrhage. WHAT IS NEW: • Intranasal breast milk administration may increase cerebral rSO₂ in preterm infants. • Intranasal breast milk administration did not affect preterm infants' heart rate, SpO₂ levels, time to transition to full oral feeding, length of hospital stay, daily vomiting, and stooling frequency.