Objective: To study the effects of caffeine citrate on body mass and inflammation levels in premature infants. Methods: Retrospective analysis was adopted

case-matched control was used to compare the postnatal mass and inflammation levels of two groups of children (with and without caffeine citrate) in neonates of Shenzhen People’s Hospital. Results: In this study

a total of 27 cases were included in the caffeine citrate group and 27 cases were included in the no caffeine citrate group. The recovery time of body mass in the caffeine citrate group was (15.9±3.6) d

while that of the the no caffeine citrate group was (10.2±3.6) d

with statistically significant difference between two groups (P<0.01). The body mass in the caffeine citrate group decreased significantly on the 7th

10th

14th

18th

21st

25th

28th and 32nd day after birth

while there was no significant difference in body mass between two groups on the 4th day and from the 33rd to 35th day. There was no statistically significant difference in the levels of white blood cells between two groups at various time periods. On the 19th to 21st day after birth

the hypersensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) level of children in the caffeine citrate group was 0.22 mg/L

and the hs-CRP level in the no caffeine citrate group was 0.10 mg/L

the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in hs-CRP level on the 1st

7th

14th

and 28th day (P>0.05). Conclusion: The use of caffeine citrate has a significant effect on the body mass gain of premature infants in the early stage

which is manifested as prolonged recovery time of birth body mass and slow body mass gain. Attention should be paid to nutrition management for premature infants to ensure the steady body mass gain.