Effects of extremely early enteral feeding on plasma glicentin levels in very-low-birthweight infants.
OBJECTIVE
Glicentin, an active component of enteroglucagon, is considered to have a significant trophic action on the intestinal mucosa. We examined the effects of extremely early enteral feedings on the postnatal and postprandial changes in plasma glicentin levels in very-low-birthweight (VLBW) infants.


METHODS
We measured the plasma glicentin concentrations before and after feedings at 1 or 2 days, 5 or 6 days and 14 days after birth in 21 VLBW infants. The subjects were randomly divided into an extremely early feeding group, which was started on breast milk within 24 h after birth, and a control group, which was started on breast milk more than 24 h after birth.


RESULTS
Plasma basal concentrations of glicentin at 5 or 6 days and at 14 days after birth were significantly higher than those at 1 or 2 days after birth in the early feeding group. The basal glicentin level at 14 days after birth was significantly higher than that at 1 or 2 days. The basal levels at 5 or 6 days and at 14 days after birth in the early feeding group were significantly higher than those in the control group. Plasma glicentin concentrations after feeding were significantly higher than those before feeding at 5 or 6 days and 14 days after birth in the early feeding group, but those levels were significantly higher only at 14 days after birth in the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that extremely early enteral feedings may play an important role in the development of glicentin secretion and intestinal mucosal growth in the early period of life in VLBW infants.
Shimizu
Toshiaki
T
Department of Pediatrics, Juntendo University, School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. tsimizut@aol.com
Tadokoro
Rieko
R
Kaneko
Noritsugu
N
Suzuki
Mitsuyoshi
M
Tanaka
Kyoko
K
Shinohara
Kouich
K
Shiga
Seigo
S
Yamashiro
Yuichiro
Y
D004750:Enteral Nutrition; D005260:Female; D053771:Glicentin / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D008297:Male; D013997:Time Factors
D053771:Glicentin