Gastric Emptying in Preterm Infants

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.

Effects of Hypoxemia on Gastrointestinal Blood Flow and Gastric Emptying in the Newborn Piglet

“…Gastric emptying was determined at 10-min intervals for a total of 30 min using a phenol red dye dilution double sampling technique (19,20). Approximately 60 min prior to the gastric emptying determinations, the stomach was aspirated of all contents, washed until the aspirate was clear and free of milk curds, then completely emptied.…”

Does age affect gastric emptying time? A model‐based meta‐analysis of data from premature neonates through to adults

“…Gastric emptying profiles are often noted to be biphasic, especially after a solid and/or high‐fat meal, due to inhibitory feedback from the small intestine 1. The first phase is indicated either by a lag time 10, 11, 12 or an initial faster process 4, 12, 13.…”

“…While older children and adults may be tested using a variety of liquids and solids, neonates can only consume liquid test meals, usually breast milk or formula (and occasionally water or sugar solutions), which confounds comparisons with studies done in older adults and children using solid meals. Liquids are known to empty more rapidly from the stomach than solids and breast milk empties more quickly than formula 13, 30, 31. Aqueous solutions empty more quickly than liquids containing fat and/or protein content which, in turn, empty more rapidly than solids 1.…”

Lipid Metabolism in Premature Infants

“…Gastric pH is higher than in adults [19,20] and stomach emptying is slower in the newborn, allowing for longer periods of food digestion than in adults [21,22], High fat concentration in gastric contents further delays gastric empty ing.…”