Fecha de publicación: -- Fuente: "milk OR dairy products" Pediatr Neonatol. 2026 Oct 26:S1875-9572(26)00181-6. doi: 10.1016/j.pedneo.2026.10.002. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTBACKGROUND: Pain stimuli may increase both oxygen consumption and stress hormone production, thereby hindering the physiological and neurological development of preterm infants. In this study, we investigated the impact of breast milk odor on pain scores, crying time, and salivary cortisol concentrations in preterm infants undergoing heel lances.METHODS: A two-arm, double-blinded, randomized controlled trial was conducted (NCT05557435). Preterm infants in the experimental group received breast milk odor. Participants in the control group received distilled water odor. The Premature Infant Pain Profile-Revised (PIPP-R), crying time, and salivary cortisol concentration were evaluated at the baseline (T0), during the heel lance procedure (T1), and 25 min after the heel stick (T2). Data were analyzed using t-test, generalized estimating equation, and Bayesian linear regression.RESULTS: In total, 64 participants were enrolled. At T1, the experimental group demonstrated a significantly lower mean PIPP-R score (10.2 ± 1.8) compared to the control group (11.9 ± 3.0) (95% confidence interval [CI]: -2.892, -0.426, t = - 2.690, p = 0.009). The crying time (152.3 ± 76.1 vs. 163.9 ± 72.2 s) was shorter, and the salivary cortisol concentration change difference between groups was not statistically significant (mean difference 3.6, 95% CI: -2.355, 9.544, t = 1.226, p = 0.228). The Bayesian linear regression showed that infants in the breast milk odor group had a significantly greater reduction in pain scores than those in the usual care group (β = 1.44, 95% CI: 0.16, 2.73). In addition, a greater number of previous painful experiences was significantly associated with a greater reduction in pain scores (β = -0.47, 95% CI: -0.92, -0.01).CONCLUSIONS: Provision of breast milk odor is a non-invasive, safe intervention for alleviating procedural pain in preterm infants. Providing breast milk odor is recommended alongside routine swaddling and environmental control to reduce stress and pain.PMID:43003714 | DOI:10.1016/j.pedneo.2026.10.002