Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of high energy formula to the short term growth of infants who could not reach the postnatal growth target.

Methods The infants with postnatal growth problem who were followed in an outpatient unit of a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit between September 2012 and September 2013 were included. Demographical, clinical, feeding and growth patterns were investigated retrospectively and weight, height and head circumference at the 1st, 2nd and 3rd months were compared after adding high energy formula (Similac High Energy, Abboutt Laboraties BV, Zwolle, Holland) to nutrition.

Results 6 infants with congenital heart disease, 1 infant with perinatal asphyxia, 1 infant with chilotorax and 6 preterm infants were included. The median of birth weight and gestational age of these infants were 2595 (750–3110) gr and 35.4 (28–40) weeks respectively. The difference of 1st, 2nd and 3rd month weight, height and head circumference z-score were found statistically significant between daily calorie of 102.1 ± 32.1 kc/kg/day before starting high energy formula and 106.1 ± 20.8 kc/kg/day with high energy formula (Table 1).

Conclusion This pilot study showed that growth parameters could be improved by adding high energy formula to nutrition in preterm infants with serious growth problem and term infants with an illness.