Evaluation of massage with oil containing medium chain triglyceride on weight gaining in preterm

Introduction: Inadequate weight gaining is common cause of prolong hospitalization, increased costs and complications in preterm and low birth weight infants. For these reasons, the present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of oil massage on weight gaining in hospitalized preterm infants in NICU of Ghaem hospital. Materials and Methods: This clinical trial was performed in neonatal intensive care unit of Ghaem hospital between April 2007 and April 2008. Sampling was nonrandom and samples were divided randomly to three groups: 1) massage with oil 2) massage without oil and 3) control group. Finally, daily weight gaining was compared between three groups. In this study, 121 preterm neonates (age < 28 days) were selected and randomly divided to three groups: 1) oil massage group 2) massage without oil group 3) control group. In three groups, weight gaining was recorded daily and compared together. Results: There was no significant differences in mean gestational age, height and head circumference (p>0.05) between three groups. The Mean of weight gaining on day seven was respectively 105±1.3g, 52± 0.1g and 54 ± 1.3g in the MCT oil massage group, the group with massage without oil and the control group. These differences were statistically significant only between the MCT oil massage group and massage group (P=0.002) and also between the MCT oil massage group and the control group (p=0.000). Conclusion: In preterm neonates, MCT oil massage can promote weight gaining, probably by transcutaneous absorption.