Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 29, 2026
Effect of Hyaluronic Acid 35 kDa on an In Vitro Model of Preterm Small Intestinal Injury and Healing Using Enteroid-Derived Monolayers
Published on: July 28, 2022
[Blood motilin concentration and enteral nutrition in premature infants]
Hua-zi Yang1, Dong-ming Huang, Jian-ping Zhu
1Department of Pediatrics, Zhongshan Maternal and Children's Health Hospital, Zhongshan 528402, China.
Insights
Premature infants have lower plasma motilin levels than full-term infants. Early enteral nutrition, including minimal enteral nutrition, improves motilin levels and gastrointestinal function in premature infants.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal physiology
- Gastroenterology
- Endocrinology
Context:
- Premature infants often experience gastrointestinal challenges.
- Motilin plays a crucial role in regulating gastrointestinal motility.
- Understanding motilin dynamics is key to optimizing infant nutrition.
Purpose:
- To investigate plasma motilin concentration changes in premature infants.
- To assess the impact of enteral nutrition on motilin levels.
- To correlate motilin levels with feeding tolerance and gestational age.
Summary:
- Plasma motilin concentrations were significantly lower in premature infants compared to full-term controls.
- Motilin levels positively correlated with gestational age, postnatal age, and milk volume.
- Lower motilin levels were observed in premature infants with feeding intolerance, particularly on day 3.
- Early enteral feeding, including minimal enteral nutrition, enhanced plasma motilin levels and improved gastrointestinal tolerance.
Impact:
- Findings suggest that premature infants' gastrointestinal systems can adapt to enteral nutrition.
- Early enteral feeding strategies can promote intestinal growth and development.
- This research provides insights for optimizing nutritional support in preterm neonates.
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.
Related Concept Videos
01:15Enteral Nutrition II: Nasointestinal and Gastrostomy Feeding
Nasointestinal Feeding
Nasointestinal feeding involves placing a tube through...
01:26Enteral Nutrition I: Orogastric and Nasogastric Feeding
Orogastric (OG) and nasogastric (NG) feeding are two standard methods used for enteral nutrition. Enteral nutrition is often preferred over...
01:20Gastrointestinal Motility Disorders