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Myoinositol in small preterm infants: relationship between intake and serum concentration
Insights
Serum inositol levels in preterm infants are influenced by diet. Higher inositol intake from breast milk, compared to formula, resulted in elevated serum inositol concentrations, suggesting its importance for infant development.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal nutrition
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Serum myoinositol (inositol) is crucial for prenatal growth and differentiation in animal studies.
- Preterm infants may have altered inositol metabolism due to their developmental stage and nutritional support.
Purpose of the Study:
- To measure serum inositol concentrations in preterm infants.
- To analyze the inositol content of various infant feeding methods.
- To correlate daily inositol intake with serum inositol levels in preterm infants.
Main Methods:
- Serum inositol was measured in 12 preterm infants (birth weight 800-1,700 g, gestational age 27-32 weeks) over 10 postnatal weeks.
- Inositol concentration in preterm colostrum, term colostrum, mature milk, infant formulas, and parenteral nutrition was analyzed.
- Daily inositol intake was correlated with serum inositol levels.
Main Results:
- Significant differences in inositol concentration were observed across different feeding types (e.g., preterm colostrum: 4.22 mM, infant formulas: 0.09-0.39 mM).
- Serum inositol levels often decreased in the first two postnatal weeks.
- After two weeks, serum inositol significantly correlated with inositol intake (R=0.601, p<0.004).
- Infants on breast milk had higher serum inositol (0.56 mM) than those on formula (0.36 mM).
Conclusions:
- Dietary inositol intake significantly impacts serum inositol concentrations in preterm infants after the initial postnatal period.
- Breast milk provides higher inositol levels than infant formulas, leading to higher serum concentrations.
- Further research is warranted to establish the importance of dietary inositol for preterm infant growth and development.
Abstract:
Serum myoinositol (henceforth called inositol) concentration was measured in 12 preterm infants (birth weight 800-1,700 g, gestational age 27-32 weeks) from birth to 10 postnatal weeks. The diet was analyzed for inositol concentration and the daily intake was correlated with serum inositol. There were striking differences in the inositol concentration of infant feedings: preterm colostrum 4.22 +/- 0.51 mM; term colostrum 2.91 +/- 0.21 mM; mature milk 1.81 +/- 0.20 mM; infant formulas 0.09-0.39 mM; parenteral nutrition 0.15 +/- 0.13 mM. The high fetal serum inositol often fell during the first 2 weeks. After 2 weeks, serum inositol correlated significantly with inositol intake (R = 0.601, p less than 0.004). On breast milk serum inositol concentrations (0.56 +/- 0.07 mM) were higher than on formula feedings (0.36 +/- 0.03 mM). Since according to animal studies inositol is important during prenatal growth and differentiation, the present data justify further study on importance of dietary inositol in preterm infants.