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Splanchnic bed metabolism of glucose in preterm neonates

Sophie R D van der Schoor1, Barbara Stoll, Darcos L Wattimena

  • 1Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Dr Molewaterplein 60, 3015 GJ Rotterdam, Netherlands.

The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
|April 29, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Preterm infants utilize about one-third of dietary glucose in their splanchnic tissues for energy. This glucose uptake and oxidation occurs regardless of whether feeding is partial or full enteral nutrition.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal physiology
  • Metabolic adaptation
  • Gastroenterology

Background:

  • Glucose is a key energy source for neonatal intestinal metabolism.
  • Limited data exists on glucose utilization in preterm infants.
  • Early enteral nutrition may aid intestinal adaptation in preterm neonates.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Quantify first-pass glucose uptake by splanchnic tissues in neonates.
  • Measure glucose oxidation in the intestine and liver of human neonates.

Main Methods:

  • Studied eight preterm infants (gestational age 29 weeks).
  • Utilized dual-tracer techniques to measure splanchnic and whole-body glucose kinetics.
  • Compared two enteral feeding regimens: partial (40% enteral) and full (100% enteral).

Main Results:

  • Splanchnic tissues utilized approximately one-third of dietary glucose during first-pass.
  • Over 75% of utilized glucose was oxidized for energy in both feeding groups.
  • Whole-body glucose oxidation was significant in both partial and full enteral feeding.

Conclusions:

  • First-pass splanchnic glucose utilization is consistent regardless of enteral intake.
  • The majority of utilized glucose serves as an energy substrate.
  • Supports the role of glucose in neonatal energy metabolism.
Abstract

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