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Updated: Feb 12, 2026

Assessment of Gastric Emptying in Non-obese Diabetic Mice Using a [13C]-octanoic Acid Breath Test
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Gavage Feed Volume Determines the Gastric Emptying Rate in Preterm Infants

Cristina H F Ferreira1, Francisco E Martinez1, Gerson C Crott1

  • 1Hospital das Clínicas, Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition
|March 31, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Preterm infants

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal physiology
  • Gastroenterology
  • Pediatric nutrition

Background:

  • Feeding intolerance and increased gastric residual are common in preterm neonates.
  • Gastric emptying regulation in early life and its impact on feeding tolerance remain poorly understood.
  • Understanding gastric emptying is crucial for optimizing nutrition in premature infants.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To noninvasively assess gastric emptying rates in clinically stable preterm neonates (28-32 weeks gestation) during their first four weeks of life.
  • To investigate the relationship between gastric emptying, postnatal age, and feeding volume.
  • To provide insights into optimizing enteral feeding strategies for preterm infants.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized ultrasound to measure gastric milk content volume in 25 neonates.
  • Measurements were taken immediately after, 30, and/or 60 minutes post-gavage feeding.
  • Calculated gastric emptying rate from sequential gastric volume data.

Main Results:

  • Gastric emptying rate was independent of postnatal age.
  • Emptying rate was significantly faster at 30 minutes compared to 60 minutes postfeed.
  • Gastric emptying rate demonstrated a direct proportionality to feeding volume, with a 6-fold difference between lowest and highest volumes.

Conclusions:

  • Gastric emptying in preterm infants is primarily dependent on feeding volume, not postnatal age.
  • Further research into higher initial feed volumes for preterm infants is recommended.
  • Findings suggest potential for adjusting feeding protocols to improve tolerance.
Abstract

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