Introduction: Premature newborns are among the high risk newborns. One of the complications of premature newborns is poor weight gain due to late-onset metabolic acidosis, which affects 5-10% of these newborns. These infants are usually healthy and without underlying diseases. This study was performed to determine the effects of oral sodium bicarbonate in low birth weight premature newborns in correction of acidosis and hence, increase in their weight gain and length.

Methods: This study was prospective and interventional and assessed 40 healthy newborns with gestational age less than 37 weeks and weight less than 2 kilograms at birth, who where born in hospital affiliated with Shiraz University of Medical Sciences and had late onset metabolic acidosis from second week of birth. Oral sodium bicarbonate (1 meq /Kg every 8 hours) was administered to the case group for 3 weeks or until acidosis was corrected. Increments in weight and length were compared between the two groups. T-test was used for statistical investigation.

Results: The average weight gain per day was 15.23 ± 4.96 grams in case group and 8.46 ± 4.8 grams in control group, which was statistically significant (p<0.05). No significant difference was found for increase in length of the newborns (p>0.05).

Conclusion: Oral sodium bicarbonate is effective in acceleration of weight gain in premature newborns with late onset metabolic acidosis and can lead to earlier discharge of these newborns and reduction of hospitalization costs.

Hakim Research Journal 2008 10(4): 40- 44.