title: Gastric electrical activity in normal neonates during the first year of life: effect of feeding with breast milk and formula.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To evaluate the effect of feeding with milk on the gastrointestinal tract, we studied gastric electrical activity in 27 healthy fullterm newborns (15 formula-fed newborns and 12 breast-fed newborns) during the first 6 months of life.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three-hour electrogastrography (EGG) recordings were performed, using portable equipment, from the third to fifth day after birth until 6 months, at 3-month intervals. The EGG parameters were calculated as raw and integrated data, the latter as AUC of the whole postprandial period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant difference in the fasting 3-cpm activity between the two groups (repeated measures analysis of variance [ANOVA] P=0.02; multiple comparisons: formula milk at birth vs breast milk at birth P<0.001). In addition, a significant change in the percentage of postprandial bradygastria was found at 6 months, 1 month after weaning (repeated measures ANOVA, P=0.01; multiple comparisons: formula milk at 6 months vs formula milk at 3 months, P=0.03, formula milk at 6 months vs formula milk at birth, P=0.02; breast milk at 6 months vs breast milk at 3 months, P=0.03, breast milk at 6 months vs breast milk at birth P=0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An adult-like gastric 3-cpm activity can be observed in breast-fed newborns in contrast to formula-fed ones, probably as an effect of colostrum. The high bradygastria percentage recorded at 6 months of life might be the result of an increased low-frequency component of the EGG signal because of the transition to a mixed diet.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Experimental Pathophysiology, IRCCS Digestive Disease Hospital, Via F Valente, 4, 70013 Castellana Grotte (BA), Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Riezzo
authors.forename: Rosa Maria
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Castellana
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: De Bellis
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Laforgia
authors.forename: Flavia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Indrio
authors.forename: Marisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chiloiro
mesh_terms: D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology; D005215:Fasting / Q000502:physiology; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D041943:Infant Formula / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000502:physiology*; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000502:physiology*; D019518:Postprandial Period / Q000502:physiology; D012016:Reference Values; D013270:Stomach / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D014886:Weaning