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Published on: January 27, 2019

Prebiotics improve gastric motility and gastric electrical activity in preterm newborns

Flavia Indrio1, Giuseppe Riezzo, Francesco Raimondi

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, University of Bari, Bari, Italy. f.indrio@neonatologia.uniba.it

Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition
|June 30, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Prebiotic oligosaccharides significantly improved gastric motility in preterm infants, enhancing electrical activity and speeding gastric emptying without adverse effects. This suggests prebiotics may improve enteral feeding tolerance in vulnerable newborns.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Physiology
  • Gastrointestinal Motility
  • Nutritional Science

Background:

  • Preterm infants often experience gastrointestinal dysmotility, complicating enteral feeding.
  • Prebiotics are known to influence gut function, but their specific effects on gastric motility in preterm neonates require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the impact of a prebiotic mixture on gastric electrical activity and gastric emptying in preterm newborns.
  • To assess the safety and efficacy of prebiotic supplementation in improving gastrointestinal function for enteral feeding.

Main Methods:

  • A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study design was employed.
  • Gastric electrical activity was measured using electrogastrography (EGG).
  • Gastric emptying time was assessed via ultrasound, with a 15-day feeding intervention period.

Main Results:

  • Newborns receiving prebiotics showed a twofold increase in detected propagation on EGG signals compared to placebo.
  • Gastric half-emptying time was reduced by 30% in the prebiotic group.
  • No significant differences in daily body weight gain or reported adverse events were observed between groups.

Conclusions:

  • Prebiotic oligosaccharides effectively modulate gastric electrical activity and accelerate gastric emptying in preterm infants.
  • Prebiotic supplementation shows potential for improving intestinal tolerance to enteral feeding in this vulnerable population.

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