Milk temperature influences esophageal motility in the newborn lamb

Esophageal dysmotility is common in infants. We aimed to evaluate the influence of milk temperature on esophageal motility using multichannel intraluminal impedance-pH monitoring (MII-pH). Five healthy lambs, ages 2 to 3 days, underwent a MII-pH whereas bottle-fed randomly with 50 mL of ewe milk at 26 °C, 38.5 °C, and 41.5 °C. Impedance motility parameters were studied on 5 swallows at each temperature. At 38.5 °C we noted a higher total propagation velocity and a shorter total bolus transit time (TBTT) (P < 0.05). These unique results suggest a potential role of milk temperature alterations in improving oral feeding in infants with esophageal dysmotility.