 Enteral nutrition of preterm and intrauterine growth-restricted IUGR infants remains a major challenge for neonatologists. Early introduction of minimal enteral feeding MEF enhances gut hormones release, reduces the intestinal permeability and improves the motility of the intestinal tract, thus promoting gut functional maturation. Due to gastrointestinal immaturity, however, preterm infants are likely to develop clinical symptoms of feeding intolerance FI, such as abdominal distention, vomiting, abundant andor bilious gastric residuals, occult or gross bloody stools. FI could represent an early sign of necrotizing enterocolitis NEC, the most feared gastrointestinal complication of prematurity. The occurrence of FI often prompts neonatologists to withhold, decrease or discontinue enteral feeds, thus hampering the establishment of an adequate early enteral nutrition. 