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The effect of olfactory stimulation on energy expenditure in growing preterm infants
Ronella Marom1, Tamar Shedlisker-Kening, Francis B Mimouni
1Department of Neonatology, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Israel.
Insights
Olfactory stimulation with vanillin did not significantly alter resting energy expenditure (REE) in healthy preterm infants. This finding suggests scent does not impact metabolic rate in this vulnerable population.
Area of Science:
- Neonatology
- Human Physiology
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Preterm infants have unique metabolic and nutritional needs.
- Understanding factors influencing energy expenditure is crucial for growth.
- Olfactory stimulation is a potential non-invasive method to modulate physiological responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of vanillin olfactory stimulation on resting energy expenditure (REE) in healthy preterm infants.
- To test the hypothesis that scent exposure increases REE in this population.
- To assess the metabolic impact of olfactory stimuli in neonatal care.
Main Methods:
- Prospective, randomized clinical trial with crossover design.
- Involved 20 healthy, gavage-fed preterm infants.
- Measured REE via indirect calorimetry after vanillin or no-odor exposure.
Main Results:
- No statistically significant difference in REE was observed between vanillin exposure (74.5 ± 10.1 kcal/kg/day) and no-odor control (79.0 ± 11.3 kcal/kg/day).
- Individual infant REE showed variability but no consistent change with olfactory stimulation.
- The results did not support the hypothesis of increased REE due to vanillin odor.
Conclusions:
- Vanillin odor does not significantly influence resting energy expenditure in stable preterm infants.
- Metabolic and thermal stability may be key factors in the lack of response.
- Further research could explore other olfactory stimuli or different infant populations.
Aim:
To test the hypothesis that olfactory stimulation in growing healthy preterm infants leads to an increase in resting energy expenditure (REE).
Design:
A prospective, randomized clinical trial with crossover was conducted in 20 healthy, appropriate weights for gestational age, gavage-fed preterm infants. Infants were studied while asleep and cared for in a skin servo-controlled convective incubator. Using a pipette, 15 drops of saturated solution of vanillin (Aldrich, Fallavier, France) were dripped to a cloth diaper that was placed on the opposite side of the incubator. REE was measured by indirect calorimetry (DeltaTrac II, Helsinki, Finland) exactly 1 h after feeding. Each infant was studied twice by randomization: after a period of 20 min of vanillin odour or after 20 min without vanillin odour.
Results:
We found no statistically significant difference in REE of preterm infants when exposed to vanillin odour (74.5 ± 10.1 kcal/kg/day) in comparison with their REE when not exposed to vanillin odour (79.0 ± 11.3 kcal/kg/day).
Conclusions:
Vanillin odour does not significantly influence REE in metabolically and thermally stable preterm infants.
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