Dietary nucleotides and intestinal blood flow velocity in term infants.
OBJECTIVE
Two previous studies have shown that the addition of nucleotides to single feedings of formula is associated with increased 90-minute postprandial superior mesenteric artery (SMA) blood flow velocity (BFV). To assess the effect of chronic feeding of nucleotide-supplemented formula, we measured pre- and postprandial SMA BFV in term infants fed formula with or without added nucleotides for 4 weeks.


METHODS
At 1 week of age, healthy, term infants were randomized to receive formula with added nucleotides (NT+), or formula without added nucleotides (NT-) from age 1 to 5 weeks. When the infants were 5 weeks of age, SMA BFV was measured by Doppler ultrasound 15 minutes before the assigned feeding (baseline) and 30, 60, and 90 minutes after the start of feeding. A reference group of human milk-fed infants was studied before and after breast feeding.


RESULTS
Thirty formula-fed (NT+ = 17; NT- = 13) and 10 human milk-fed infants were studied. Baseline BFV was similar among the three groups. BFV increased in each group from baseline to 30 minutes after initiation of feeding and progressively declined from 30 to 90 minutes in infants fed NT- formula or human milk. In infants fed NT+ formula, BFV decreased between 30 and 60 minutes. However, from 60 to 90 minutes, velocity was unchanged or increased. At 90 minutes, mean and peak systolic velocities were significantly greater in the NT+ group than the NT- group (P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
These data agree with those of previous studies showing increased 90-minute postprandial SMA BFV after a feeding with nucleotide-supplemented formula. The clinical significance of these findings is unknown.
Carver
Jane D
JD
University of South Florida College of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Tampa, Florida, USA. jcarver@hsc.usf.edu
Sosa
Roberto
R
Saste
Monisha
M
Kuchan
Matthew
M
D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000187:drug effects; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food; D041943:Infant Formula; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007422:Intestines / Q000098:blood supply*; D008297:Male; D017538:Mesenteric Artery, Superior / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009711:Nucleotides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019518:Postprandial Period; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D013997:Time Factors; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler
D009711:Nucleotides