Gastric emptying in healthy newborns fed an intact protein formula, a partially and an extensively hydrolysed formula.
OBJECTIVE
Gastric emptying (GE) is influenced by the type of nutrition. The objective of this study was to compare GE in infants fed an intact protein formula (IPF), a partially hydrolysed formula (PHF), and an extensively hydrolysed formula (EHF).


METHODS
This was a double-blind, randomized, cross-over study. Following a fasting period of > or = 3 h, 20 healthy newborns were fed IPF, PHF, and EHF containing 50 microl (13)C-octanoic acid (OA). Breath samples were taken before feeding and every 15 min for 4 h thereafter. (13)C-OA breath test was assessed by isotope-ratio mass spectrometry, and GE half-times (t(1/2)) were determined.


RESULTS
Seventeen infants with a mean gestational age of 37 wk (range 28-40 wk) and birth weight of 2698 g (range 720-3690 g) completed the study. At study initiation, the mean age was 31 d (range 6 d-13 wk) and the mean weight was 3466 g (range 2100-5700 g). EHF emptied significantly faster than IPF and PHF (medians 46 vs. 55 and 53 min, respectively, Wilcoxon, P<0.05 for both). There was no significant difference between GE of PHF and IPF (Wilcoxon, P=0.2).


CONCLUSIONS
EHF may be better tolerated by infants with GE problems.
Staelens
Sofie
S
Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Queen Paola Children's Hospital, ZNA, Lindendreef 1, 2018 Antwerp, Belgium.
Van den Driessche
Mieke
M
Barclay
Denis
D
Carrié-Faessler
Anne-Lise
AL
Haschke
Ferdinand
F
Verbeke
Kristin
K
Vandebroek
Hilde
H
Allegaert
Karel
K
Van Overmeire
Bart
B
Van Damme
Mieke
M
Veereman-Wauters
Gigi
G
D001944:Breath Tests / Q000379:methods*; D002210:Caprylates; D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005746:Gastric Emptying / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D006868:Hydrolysis; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food; D041943:Infant Formula / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male
D002210:Caprylates; D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D004044:Dietary Proteins