title: Effect of non-sucrose sweet tasting solution on neonatal heel prick responses.
abstract: A substance commercially described as 'sugar free,' used as a sweetener for paracetamol suspension, was evaluated on measures of neonatal pain. Sixty infants were randomly allocated to receive one of four solutions before heel stab blood sampling: sterile water (placebo); 25 or 50% sucrose (weight/volume); and the commercial sweet-tasting solution. There was a significant reduction in crying time and pain score 3 minutes after the painful stimulus in all groups compared with the controls. It is concluded that this sweet-tasting solution has analgesic effects as potent as those of concentrated sucrose solutions.
authors.affiliation: Division of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Leeds School of Medicine.
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Ramenghi
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Griffith
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Levene
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D001800:Blood Specimen Collection / Q000379:methods*; D006365:Heel; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010146:Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D014677:Pharmaceutical Vehicles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013395:Sucrose / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013549:Sweetening Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D014677:Pharmaceutical Vehicles; D013549:Sweetening Agents; D013395:Sucrose