Effect of formula thickened with reduced concentration of locust bean gum on gastroesophageal reflux.
OBJECTIVE
Previous studies showed that HL-350, a formula thickened with a reduced concentration of locust bean gum, decreased frequent regurgitation in 4-month old infants with reflux. In this study, we investigated the effect of HL-350 in younger infants.


METHODS
We studied 20 infants less than 2 months old who had three or more episodes of regurgitation or vomiting per day. Ten infants (group A) were fed with HL-350 for the first week, and with control milk, HL-00, for the following week. The other 10 infants (group B) were fed in reverse order. Mothers recorded number of regurgitation episodes, feeding volume and time and number of bowel movements. To evaluate gastric emptying we measured antral cross sectional areas ultrasonographically at various time points after feeding.


RESULTS
The median number of regurgitation episodes decreased significantly with feeding of HL-350 (2.3/day) compared to feeding with control milk (5.2/day) (p = 0.00048). No significant difference was evident in feeding volume and time, body weight gain, or gastric emptying rate between HL-350 and control milk.


CONCLUSIONS
HL-350 decreased the number of regurgitation episodes without affecting gastric emptying delay in very young infants with recurrent vomiting.
Miyazawa
R
R
Department of Pediatrics and Developmental Medicine, Gunma University Graduate School, Maebashi, Japan. rmiyazaw@med.gunma-u.ac.jp
Tomomasa
T
T
Kaneko
H
H
Arakawa
H
H
Morikawa
A
A
D005685:Galactans; D005746:Gastric Emptying / Q000502:physiology; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D041943:Infant Formula / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008351:Mannans; D053149:Plant Gums; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014839:Vomiting / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000517:prevention & control
D005685:Galactans; D008351:Mannans; D053149:Plant Gums; C017471:locust bean gum