Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 21, 2026

Assessment of Gastric Emptying in Non-obese Diabetic Mice Using a [13C]-octanoic Acid Breath Test
12:24

Assessment of Gastric Emptying in Non-obese Diabetic Mice Using a [13C]-octanoic Acid Breath Test

Published on: March 23, 2013

14.1K

Faster Gastric Emptying Is Unrelated to Feeding Success in Preterm Infants: Randomized Controlled Trial

Maria Elisabetta Baldassarre1, Antonio Di Mauro2, Osvaldo Montagna2

  • 1Neonatology and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Department of Biomedical Science and Human Oncology, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", 70124 Bari, Italy. mariellabaldassarre@gmail.com.

Nutrients
|July 24, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Feeding preterm infants with extensively hydrolyzed protein (EHP) formula, not intact protein premature formula (IPF), was linked to faster gastric emptying. However, faster gastric emptying did not predict successful achievement of full enteral feeding.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal nutrition
  • Gastroenterology
  • Pediatric clinical trials

Background:

  • Optimizing nutritional support is critical for preterm infants.
  • Gastric emptying (GE) is a key factor in enteral feeding tolerance.
  • The impact of different protein hydrolysates on GE and feeding advancement in preterm infants requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the relationship between gastric emptying (GE) time and the duration to achieve full enteral feeding in preterm infants.
  • To compare GE times between infants fed intact protein premature formula (IPF) and extensively hydrolyzed protein (EHF) formula.
  • To determine if GE time is a reliable predictor of feeding success in this population.

Main Methods:

  • A triple-blind, controlled, prospective clinical trial involving preterm infants.
  • Gastric emptying time (t1/2) was measured using real-time ultrasonography on Study Day 14.
  • Pearson correlation was used to evaluate the association between GE time and achieving full enteral feeding (≥140 mL/kg/day).

Main Results:

  • Median GE time was significantly faster in the EHF group compared to the IPF group (p ≤ 0.018).
  • Despite faster GE in the EHF group, GE time showed no significant correlation with the achievement of full enteral feeding (r = 0.08; p = 0.547).

Conclusions:

  • While EHF formula resulted in faster gastric emptying than IPF, this did not translate to a shorter time to full enteral feeding.
  • Gastric emptying time may not be a clinically relevant surrogate marker for assessing feeding tolerance or predicting feeding success in preterm infants.
  • Clinical decisions regarding feeding advancement should consider factors beyond GE time.
Abstract

Keywords:
feeding tolerancegastric emptyinginfantinfant formulaprematureultrasonography

More Related Videos

Author Spotlight: Advancements and Challenges in Surgical Treatments for Postamputation Pain03:26

Author Spotlight: Advancements and Challenges in Surgical Treatments for Postamputation Pain

Published on: March 8, 2024

3.5K
Development of a Neonatal Piglet Acute Lung Injury Model Recreating the Early Environment of Preterm Infant Lungs08:58

Development of a Neonatal Piglet Acute Lung Injury Model Recreating the Early Environment of Preterm Infant Lungs

Published on: October 31, 2025

576

Related Concept Videos

Gastric Emptying01:16

Gastric Emptying

Gastric emptying occurs when the stomach gradually releases chyme into the duodenum. When the stomach is distended, it triggers the release of gastrin, a hormone that promotes gastric acid secretion to aid in digestion. Additionally, stomach distension contributes to peristaltic waves that propel gastric contents toward the pyloric region. The gastroenteric reflex, on the other hand, primarily stimulates peristalsis in the intestines, facilitating the movement of contents further along the...
3.4K
Ecological Succession02:17

Ecological Succession

Ecological succession is influenced by the processes of facilitation, inhibition, and toleration. Facilitation occurs when early successional species create more favorable ecological conditions for subsequent species, such as enhanced nutrient, water, or light availability. In contrast, inhibition happens when early successional species create unfavorable ecological conditions for potential successive species, such as limiting resource availability. In some cases, later successional species...
21.3K
Gastric Motility01:16

Gastric Motility

Gastric motility is the coordinated contraction and relaxation of stomach muscles that convert ingested food into chyme, a semi-liquid substance ready for further digestion in the intestines. The process begins with the vagus nerve inducing the relaxation of the smooth muscles in the fundus and body of the stomach, allowing these regions to expand and accommodate up to approximately 1.5 liters of food and liquid.
Peristaltic Waves and Chyme Formation
Upon food entry, the stomach initiates...
2.9K
Clinical Trials01:16

Clinical Trials

Clinical trials are prospective experimental studies conducted on humans to determine the safety and efficacy of treatments, drugs, diet methods, and medical devices. Using statistics in clinical trials enables researchers to derive reasonable and accurate conclusions from the collected data, allowing them to make wise decisions in uncertain situations. In medical research, statistical methods are crucial for preventing errors and bias.
There are four phases in a clinical trial. A phase one...
10.2K
Clinical Trials: Overview01:11

Clinical Trials: Overview

Clinical development focuses on how the drug will interact with the human body and encompasses four key phases of clinical trials, each serving a specific purpose in assessing the safety and effectiveness of new drugs. These phases overlap and build upon one another. Phase I involves a small group of healthy volunteers (typically 20-80 individuals) or, in cases where significant toxicity is expected, patients with the targeted disease, such as cancer or AIDS. The volunteers are tested for...
4.6K
Trial and Error and Algorithm01:12

Trial and Error and Algorithm

A problem-solving strategy is a plan of action used to find a solution. Different strategies have distinct action plans. Trial and error involves trying different solutions until one works. For instance, to fix a broken printer, you might check ink levels, ensure the paper tray isn't jammed, and verify the printer's connection to your laptop. This method can be time-consuming but is commonly used. Thomas Edison, for example, used trial and error to find a suitable filament for the light...
399