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BACKGROUND Adequate nutrition is essential for optimal neurodevelopment to preterm infants. Our aim was to evaluate the impact of caloric deprivation on Bayley-III scales performance at 18-24 months of corrected age, in a cohort of preterm infants. METHODS We prospectively enrolled infants with gestational age <30 weeks and birth weight <1500 g. Apart from a whole cohort analysis, we performed a subgroup analysis between infants received inadequate calories (<85 Kcal/kg/day) during the first two weeks of age, compared to a standard nutrition group. All infants underwent a Bayley-III assessment at 18-24 months of corrected age. RESULTS From the 63 preterm infants analysed, 25% had caloric deprivation compared to 75% with adequate nutrition. Caloric deprived infants were of lower gestational age and birth weight, and received a lower amount of enteral feeding during the first 14 days of age. There were no differences between the two groups regarding the common neonatal co-morbidities. Caloric deprived infants had significantly lower composite index scores at 18-24 months of corrected age. Caloric deprivation, late onset sepsis, necrotizing enterocolitis, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia were significant risk factors of neurodevelopmental impairment. CONCLUSIONS Several neonatal factors affect the neurodevelopmental outcome of preterm infants, and nutrition may pose an important role.