Plasma somatostatin and cholecystokinin levels in preterm infants during kangaroo care with and without nasogastric tube-feeding.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the influence of kangaroo care (KC) with and without nasogastric tube-feeding (NGTF) on plasma cholecystokinin (CCK) and somatostatin (SS) levels in preterm infants and in their parents.


METHODS
Eighteen infants, median (range) gestational age 28 wks (24-34 wks) and birth weight 1230 g (766-2660 g) received KC for > or = 60 min at a median age of 3 days. In infants, blood samples were taken before KC and at 5, 30 and > or = 60 minutes of KC and from the parents (n = 15) before and at > or = 60 minutes of KC. Eight infants receiving KC and 67 infants not receiving KC were fed by nasogastric tube. Blood samples were taken before and 30 min after the end of feeding. All blood samples were analyzed by specific SS and CCK radioimmunoassays.


RESULTS
In infants, the median plasma cholecystokinin level decreased from 10.3 to 9.0 pmol/l (p < 0.05) during KC without feeding. Plasma SS did not change. Plasma CCK levels increased from 10.1 to 22.3 pmol/l (p = 0.028) after NGTF during KC and were unchanged after NGTF without KC. Plasma somatostatin levels were unchanged after NGTF in both groups. In parents, plasma somatostatin levels and cholecystokinin levels did not change during KC.


CONCLUSIONS
In infants, plasma cholecystokinin, but not somatostatin levels, decreased during KC. Plasma CCK levels increased after NGTF only in combination with KC. Plasma SS levels were unchanged. In parents, plasma somatostatin and cholecystokinin levels were not influenced by KC.
Törnhage
C J
CJ
Department of Paediatrics, Umeå University, Sweden.
Serenius
F
F
Uvnäs-Moberg
K
K
Lindberg
T
T
D002766:Cholecystokinin / Q000097:blood*; D004750:Enteral Nutrition; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal / Q000379:methods; D007441:Intubation, Gastrointestinal; D007700:Kinetics; D010275:Parasympathetic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology; D010290:Parents; D012677:Sensation / Q000502:physiology*; D012867:Skin; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000097:blood*
D013004:Somatostatin; D002766:Cholecystokinin