title: Contribution of low-molecular-weight compounds to the fecal excretion of carbohydrate energy in premature infants.
abstract: It was hypothesized that low-molecular-weight products of carbohydrate fermentation would contribute only a small percentage to the total fecal excretion of nonfat, nonnitrogenous energy (carbohydrate energy) in premature infants. Infants born at 28-32 weeks' gestation who were 2-4 weeks of age were randomized to receive a formula with lactose as the sole carbohydrate (n = 7) or the same formula with 50% of the carbohydrate as glucose polymer (n = 8). The percent contribution (X +/- SD) to total carbohydrate energy of sugars (glucose, galactose, lactose, glucose polymer), short-chain fatty acids (acetate, propionate, butyrate, isobutyrate, valerate, and isovalerate), and D- and L-lactate was 9.4% +/- 2.9% for the 15 subjects and was not significantly different between groups. The percent contribution of all four sugars was 5.8% +/- 1.7% and did not differ between the two groups. Doubling the lactose intake resulted in significant increases in fecal excretion (kilocalories per kilogram per day) of acetate (77% increase; P = 0.03), total short-chain fatty acids (54%; P = 0.04), and galactose (188%; P = 0.03). These data suggest that as much as 90% of fecal carbohydrate energy may be in the form of large-molecular-weight compounds, presumably bacterial in origin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Ohio State University, Columbus.
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Kien
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Liechty
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Mullett
mesh_terms: D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000378:metabolism*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis; D005243:Feces / Q000032:analysis*; D005285:Fermentation; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000378:metabolism*; D007773:Lactates / Q000032:analysis; D007785:Lactose / Q000378:metabolism; D011108:Polymers / Q000378:metabolism; D011897:Random Allocation
chemical_list: D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D005227:Fatty Acids; D007773:Lactates; D011108:Polymers; D005947:Glucose; D007785:Lactose