Hydrolysed protein accelerates the gastrointestinal transport of formula in preterm infants.
Vomiting, large gastric residuals and abdominal distension are common in very immature infants on formula feeding. The present trial investigated whether a protein hydrolysate formula reduces the gastrointestinal transit time in preterm infants. Fifteen preterm infants (median gestational age 29 (24-32) wk, birthweight 1241 (660-1900) g, postnatal age 18 (5-54) d) on full enteral feeds (>150 ml/kg*d) were enrolled. It was hypothesized that the gastrointestinal transit time is at least 2 h shorter when protein hydrolysate formula is fed compared with standard preterm formula. In a randomized cross-over design study, each formula was fed for 5 d. On days 4 and 9 the gastrointestinal transit time was estimated using carmine red. The protein hydrolysate formula had a markedly shorter gastrointestinal transit time (9.8 h) than the standard formula (19 h) (p = 0.0022, two-sided Mann-Whitney U test).


CONCLUSIONS
The hydrolysate protein formula accelerated gastrointestinal transit of milk and stools, but whether hydrolysate formulas enable a more rapid establishment of full enteral feeding in preterm infants needs to be investigated.
Department of Pediatrics, University of Ulm, Germany.
W A
WA
Mihatsch
J
J
Högel
F
F
Pohlandt
D002329:Carmine; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004064:Digestive System / Q000187:drug effects; D005526:Food, Formulated; D005772:Gastrointestinal Transit / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007225:Infant Food; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D011492:Protein Hydrolysates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D013997:Time Factors
D011492:Protein Hydrolysates; D002329:Carmine