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Effects of jaundice and phototherapy on gastric emptying in the newborn
Insights
Moderate jaundice significantly delays gastric emptying in infants, but phototherapy normalizes this function by reducing bilirubin levels. Mild jaundice showed no impact.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal physiology
- Pediatric gastroenterology
- Bilirubin metabolism
Background:
- Jaundice is common in newborns.
- The effect of jaundice on infant digestion is not fully understood.
- Gastric emptying is crucial for infant nutrition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of jaundice on gastric emptying in term infants.
- To determine if phototherapy affects gastric emptying.
- To assess the clinical significance of jaundice-related gastric emptying delays.
Main Methods:
- Gastric emptying rate was measured in term infants.
- Infants were categorized into no jaundice, mild jaundice, and moderate jaundice groups.
- Measurements were taken before and after phototherapy for jaundiced infants.
Main Results:
- Moderate jaundice (serum unconjugated bilirubin 233-332 mumol/l) significantly delayed gastric emptying.
- Mild jaundice (serum unconjugated bilirubin 170-204 mumol/l) did not affect gastric emptying.
- Phototherapy normalized gastric emptying in moderately jaundiced infants.
Conclusions:
- Jaundice inhibits gastric emptying in a dose-dependent manner.
- Phototherapy indirectly improves gastric emptying by lowering bilirubin levels.
- This physiological effect may be clinically relevant for a subset of jaundiced infants.
Abstract:
Gastric emptying rate was measured in term infants without jaundice, with mild jaundice, and with moderate jaundice before and after phototherapy. Gastric emptying was significantly delayed in the moderately jaundiced infants (serum unconjugated bilirubin 233-332 mumol/l) but returned to normal following phototherapy. Mild jaundice (serum unconjugated bilirubin 170-204 mumol/l) had no effect on gastric emptying. Jaundice appears to inhibit gastric emptying, and phototherapy influences emptying indirectly by lowering serum bilirubin concentration. This effect is likely to be of clinical significance in a small minority of jaundiced infants.