[Blood motilin concentration and enteral nutrition in premature infants].
OBJECTIVE
To study changes of plasma motilin concentration and it's effect on enteral nutrition in premature infants.


METHODS
The plasma motilin concentration of 72 premature infants was measured within 12 hours after birth before enteral feeding and on day 3 and 7 of life by using radioimmunoassay. Sixteen full-term neonates were enrolled as controls.


RESULTS
(1) The plasma concentrations of motilin in premature infants before enteral feeding after birth and on day 3 and 7 were 198.65 +/- 58.42 ng/L, 248.83 +/- 56.00 ng/L, and 376.77 +/- 139.46 ng/L, respectively, which were significantly lower than those in the control group (300.33 +/- 67.15 ng/L, 334.26 +/- 83.81 ng/L, 510.64 +/- 179.85 ng/L) (P < 0.001 or < 0.01). There was positive correlation between the concentration and gestational age, age in day and the volume of milk. On day 7 the level of motilin was higher than the pre-enteral feeding level of the full term control group. (2) The plasma motilin concentration in feeding un-tolerated premature infants group was lower than that in the normal group, especially on day 3 of life (P < 0.05). (3) Early enteral feeding could improve the plasma motilin levels, gastrointestinal motility and nutrition tolerance in premature infants.


CONCLUSIONS
The gastrointestinal functions of premature infants are adaptable to enteral nutrition. Early enteral feeding (including minimal enteral nutrition and non-nutritive sucking) can promote adaptive rapid growth and development of intestine.
Yang
Hua-zi
HZ
Department of Pediatrics, Zhongshan Maternal and Children's Health Hospital, Zhongshan 528402, China.
Huang
Dong-ming
DM
Zhu
Jian-ping
JP
Gao
Jian-hui
JH
Yang
Bing-yan
BY
Liu
Xiu-qin
XQ
Han
Yu-kun
YK
D004750:Enteral Nutrition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight / Q000097:blood; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000097:blood*; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009037:Motilin / Q000097:blood*; D013997:Time Factors
D009037:Motilin