Dietary Protein in the Very-low-birth-weight Infant

Inclusion Criteria: * Gestational age \<32 w, determined by maternal dates, fetal ultrasound, Dubowitz/Ballard examination or a combination thereof * Birth weight ≤1500 g * Tolerating an enteral intake of ≥100 ml/kg/d for ≥ 24 h * Subject is anticipated to receive the study formula for ≥ 3 consecutive weeks after FEF have been achieved * In infants fed human milk, formula is anticipated to provide 50% or more of total energy intake, calculated on a weekly basis and based on the assumption that human milk has an energy density of 67 kcal/dl * Written informed consent has been obtained from the legal representative Exclusion Criteria: * Cardiac failure requiring fluid restriction with diuretic therapy for ≥ 3 consecutive days * Peri-/intra-ventricular haemorrhage (grade 3-4) determined using cranial ultrasonography * Renal disease: by symptoms (oliguria, anuria, proteinuria, hematuria) associated with an increased BUN and creatinine * Sepsis: defined by symptoms requiring antibiotic therapy and confirmed by a positive blood culture * Necrotizing Enterocolitis: defined by feeding intolerance associated with positive x-ray findings (pneumatosis intestinalis - Bell Stage 2; air in the biliary tract or free air in the peritoneum - Bell Stage 3) * Hepatic dysfunction: defined by jaundice (direct bilirubin \>1.0 mg/dl) which is associated with one or more abnormal liver function tests (AST, ALT or GGT) * Lung disease, severe enough to require steroid therapy. * Small size for gestational age (SGA) - body weight ≤ 5th percentile for that gestational age. * Participation in another clinical trial that may affect outcomes of this study