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Human milk empties faster from the stomachs of preterm infants than infant formula. Human milk follows a biphasic emptying pattern, while formula shows linear emptying, impacting infant nutrition.
Area of Science:
- Neonatology
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Infant Nutrition
Background:
- Preterm infants exhibit unique physiological characteristics affecting digestion.
- Understanding gastric emptying is crucial for optimizing feeding protocols in premature neonates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the gastric emptying rates of human milk versus adapted infant formula in preterm infants.
- To characterize the emptying patterns of different milk feeds in this vulnerable population.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a marker dilution technique in 11 healthy preterm infants (postnatal age 1-9 weeks).
- Administered standardized meals of human milk and infant formula.
- Monitored gastric emptying over time.
Main Results:
- Human milk exhibited a biphasic emptying pattern, with 50% emptying in approximately 25 minutes.
- Infant formula showed a linear emptying pattern, with 50% emptying in approximately 51 minutes.
- After one hour, significantly more human milk (24.8 ml) than infant formula (19.2 ml) had emptied.
Conclusions:
- Human milk demonstrates a significantly faster gastric emptying rate compared to infant formula in preterm infants.
- The distinct emptying patterns suggest differences in physiological processing and potential implications for nutrient absorption and feeding tolerance.
Abstract:
The gastric emptying of meals of human milk and infant formula was studied in 11 healthy preterm (AGA) infants at a postnatal age of 1-9 weeks corresponding to 33-38 weeks of gestational age. A total of 30 studies were performing using a marker dilution technique. Gastric emptying of meals of human milk followed a biphasic emptying pattern with an initial fast phase. In about 25 min half of the meal had left the stomach. The emptying of meals of adapted infant formula usually followed a linear pattern and half the meal had left the stomach after 51 min. After one hour an average of 24.8 ml of human milk and 19.2 ml of infant formula had left the stomach.