Refeeding syndrome in newborns: diagnostic criteria

Abstract

Relevance. Refeeding syndrome (RFS) is a serious metabolic complication that occurs upon refeeding after a period of starvation or severe nutritional deprivation. Although this phenomenon has been well studied in adults, timely recognition, diagnostic criteria, and prevention of RFS in newborns – particularly preterm infants, those with low birth weight, and infants with fetal growth restriction – remain insufficiently standardized. A key challenge is the lack of unified diagnostic criteria for neonatal RFS, which hampers timely detection, preventive measures, and crossstudy comparability. Aim. To summarize current evidence on diagnostic criteria for RFS in neonatal practice, identify principal risk markers of its development, and propose practical approaches for clinical use.