A cream supplement consisting of human milk fat is linked to improved growth rates in premature infants, according to a new study. Researchers from the USDA/ARS Children’s Nutrition Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children’s Hospital have successfully fed premature infants the cream supplement, helping to improve their growth rates in the NICU.

First study author, Dr. Amy Hair, assistant professor of pediatrics at Baylor and neonatologist at Texas Children’s Hospital, said in a statement, “For premature babies who weigh less than 1,000 grams (about 2 pounds, 2 ounces), one of the problems is that their lungs and other organs are still developing when they are born. If the infant gains weight and increases in length at a good rate while in the NICU, this helps improve their outcomes.”

Prior research indicates that a diet consisting exclusively of human milk helps to protect the intestines of premature infants while supporting their growth. This diet involves the mothers’ breast milk or milk from a donor along with a fortifier with protein and minerals from the donor milk.

According to the Dairy Council of California, health benefits of milk include improved bone health as well as positive effects on immunity, mild hypertension, weight management strategies, and increased satiety in dieters.