Table 1

Summary of the characteristics of the seven included studies

Study Time period Design	Sample size	DBM group	Formula group	Study inclusion criteria		Baseline data in study population*		Feeding regimen
Study Time period Design	Sample size	Type o DBM (n)	Type of formula (n)	Gestation(weeks)	Birth weight(g)	Mean gestation (weeks)	Mean birth weight (g)	Route of delivery	Dose	Pre-allocation nutrition	When allocated feed started	Infants fed allocated diet until	Additional nourishment	Post diet regimen
DBM, donor breast milk; IV, intravenous; N/A, not applicable as outcomes measured whilst on allocated diet; PTF, preterm formula; RCT, randomised controlled study; VLBW, very low birth weight.
“Drip” milk: the milk that drips from one breast while the infant feeds at the other breast.
*These were the characteristics of the study sample rather than specific inclusion criteria.
†Lucas A and Lucas B refer to the Lucas study trial A (sole diet comparison) and trial B (supplementary diet comparison), respectively.
‡Initially a quasi-RCT that became observational due to a change in selection criteria and population.
Davies⁹1972–1973 RCT	68	Term(34)	PTF(34)	28–36*		32.9	1954	Not stated	50 ml/kg increased to 200 ml/kg or until satisfied	Not stated	Not stated	2 months old	If diet was not tolerated infants received 10%dextrose IV. All infants received vitamin and iron supplements	N/A
Raiha et al¹⁰1972–1975RCT	106	Term(22)	Not stated(84)	28–36	⩽2100	31–33	1680	Smallest infants initially fed by gavage, others teat	Formula: 150 ml/kg.day DBM: 170 ml/kg/day	Not stated	Within 24 h of birth	2400 g	DBM group were given vitamins A, D and C and ferrous sulphate	Not stated
Schultz et al¹¹1980 RCT	20	“Mature”(10)	Not stated(10)	30–37*	<2000*	33.2	1698	Not stated	Increased to 170 ml/kg/day by 1 week	None	Before 24 h (usually 6–12 h)	Not stated	Not stated	Not stated
Gross¹²1980–1982 RCT	67	Preterm(20)	PTF(46)	27–33	<1600	30.9	1322	Gastric gavage	24 ml/kg/day increased to 180 ml/kg/day	Not stated	Day 1–6 (mean day 3)	1800 g	IV dextrose and electrolytes days 1–5 after birth, and 1 ml Poly Vi Sol from day 7; hyponatraemic babies received NaCl in their milk	All fed formula
		Term(21)
Lucas A et al†^13–²²1982–1984 RCT	159	“Mainly drip”(83)	PTF(76)		<1850	31.3	1401	Nasogastric tube	Up to 200 ml/kg/24 h	In 3 centres all infants received DBM for first 24 h	Median 7 days	2000 g or discharge	In total (trials A and B) 90/502 babies required initial parenteral nutrition	Not stated
Lucas B et al†^13–²²1982–1984 RCT	343	“Mainly drip”(170)	PTF(173)		<1850	31.1	1388	Nasogastric tube	Up to 200 ml/kg/24 h	In 3 centres all infants received DBM for first 24 h	Median 7 days	2000 g or discharge	See above	Not stated
Cooper et al²³Early 1980s Observational‡	39	Preterm (24)	PTF(15)	<36	1200–1500	32.3	1359	Nasogastric tube then bottle	Formula: 175 ml/kg/day DBM: 170–200 ml/kg/day	Not stated	When enteral feeding started	1800 g	Daily vitamin D.	N/A
Putet et al²⁴1984 Study design unclear	12	Not stated(6)	PTF(6)		“VLBW”	30.2	1310	Nasogastric gavage or teat	Formula: mean 157 ml/kg/day DBM: mean 168 ml/kg/day	Parenteral glucose and amino acid solution until oral feeding, all infants initially fed DBM within 24–48 hours until full diet had been reached	Study 1: once full oral feeding attained	Not stated	Not stated	N/A
											Study 2: when infants reached the equivalentof 36 weeks