Human milk-based fortifier is associated with less alteration of milk fat globule size than cow milk-based fortifier

We aimed to evaluate if human milk-based fortifier (HMBF) affects human milk fat globule (MFG) size less than cow milk-based fortifier (CMBF), which may impact overall infant feeding tolerance. Measurements of donated human milk were performed before fortification as well as at 1 hour, 24 hours, and 48 hours after fortification with CMBF or HMBF. MFG size in each sample of fortified milk was measured by laser light scattering. MFG size in the fortified milks increased gradually over time. At 24 and 48 hours after fortification, MFG size in the milk with CMBF was larger than that in the milk with HMBF (4.8 ± 0.5 vs 4.3 ± 0.3 μm, p<0.01, 5.1 ± 0.7 vs 4.5 ± 0.4 μm, p = 0.03, respectively). HMBF is associated with less alteration of MFG size than CMBF. This may have an impact on feeding tolerance of very preterm infants.

Is preterm donor milk better than preterm formula for very-low-birth-weight infants?

Background: Preterm human milk has advantages over preterm formula (PF), but it may compromise some functions after pasteurization. Objective: To explore the effects of preterm donor milk (DM) on growth, feeding tolerance, and severe morbidity in very-low-birth-weight infants. Method: This was a single-center, prospective cohort study that included 304 preterm infants weighing <1,500 g or of gestational age <32 weeks. If the mother’s own milk was insufficient, the parents decided to use PF (n = 155) or DM (n = 149). The two groups were uniformly managed according to the standard NICU protocol. Growth parameters, feeding tolerance, and severe morbidity such as necrotizing enterocolitis, were compared between the two groups. Results: The daily weight gain and weekly head growth in the DM group were not different from those in the PF group (P > 0.05). Feeding intolerance in the DM group was significantly lower than that in PF group (P < 0.05), and parenteral nutrition time and hospitalization time were also shorter than that in the PF group (P < 0.05). Moreover, the incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis and sepsis was also significantly lower in the DM group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The study indicated that preterm DM does not affect the growth of very-low-birth-weight infants. Further, it significantly reduces feeding intolerance, helps achieve full enteral feeding early, and has protective effects against necrotizing enterocolitis and sepsis. Thus, compared with formula, preterm DM can lower the rate of infection in preterm infants and is worthy of promotion.

Packed Cell Transfusion and Feeding Tolerance in Healthy Preterm Infants: A Randomized Clinical Tria

Background: Recently, the correlation between necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and packed cell transfusion (PCT) has been identified. Evidence shows that 25 - 35% of NEC cases are associated with PCT. Objectives: this study aimed to determine the association between PCT and feeding tolerance in healthy preterm newborns. Methods: Materials and Methods: This clinical trial was performed on preterm infants, admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of Mofid Children's Hospital, Tehran, Iran, from April 2017 to May 2018. A total of 70 healthy premature infants (birth weight < 1500 g and gestational age < 32 weeks) with enteral feeding, who required PCT, were included in this study. The eligible infants were divided into two groups by simple randomization. In the intervention group (n = 35), breastfeeding was withheld only during PCT and then continued as usual. On the other hand, in the control group (n = 35), feeding was performed as usual, regardless of PCT. Feeding tolerance within the first 72 hours post-transfusion was compared between the two groups. Sick newborns were excluded from the study. Data analysis was performed in SPSS version 20. Results: The mean gestational age, birth weight, and postnatal age of the neonates were 30.13 weeks, 1245.71 g, and 17 days in the intervention group and 29.97 weeks, 1169.43 g, and 15.46 days in the control group, respectively; there was no significant difference between the two groups. Except for pre-transfusion hemoglobin and hematocrit levels, other characteristics of the two groups were similar. Feeding tolerance was reported in 32 (91.2%), 33 (94.73%), and 34 (97.1%) newborns at 24, 48, and 72 hours post-transfusion in both groups, without any significant difference. There was no significant difference between neonates with and without feeding tolerance in either of the groups. Conclusions: According to the present results, withholding feeding during PCT is not necessary in healthy preterm neonates with a good general condition, and continued breastfeeding seems to be a safe option.

Serum ghrelin is associated with early feeding readiness but not growth in premature infants

BACKGROUND: Feeding tolerance among premature infants is unpredictable using clinical parameters. Ghrelin, a peptide hormone, acts on the hypothalamus to increase hunger and gut motility. It is present in fetal tissues, promotes intestinal maturation, and is secreted in milk. We hypothesized that higher serum ghrelin levels on days 0–7 are associated with improved feeding tolerance and growth in premature infants. METHODS: Infants (< 1500 g birth weight, n = 36) were recruited on day (D) 0–7. Serum ghrelin was measured by ELISA on D 0–7, D 10–14, and D 24–32, and milk ghrelin in a feeding concurrent with each serum sample. Feeding tolerance was assessed as days to first and full enteral feeds. Growth was quantified as both weight and adipose and muscle deposition by ultrasound. RESULTS: Mean serum ghrelin levels decreased from D 0–7 to D 24–32. Higher ghrelin levels on D 0–7 were correlated with shorter time to first enteral feeding, but not with time to full enteral feeds, rate of weight gain, or rate of accretion of muscle or adipose tissue. Milk ghrelin was not related to serum ghrelin or growth. Abdominal and suprascapular muscle and adipose increased during the first month, but weight gain correlated only with the rate of accretion of abdominal adipose. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated serum ghrelin in the first days of life may contribute to gut motility and readiness to feed. Weight gain in premature infants may primarily indicate abdominal fat accumulation, suggesting that ultrasound measurement of muscle accretion is a better marker for lean body growth.

Effect of gut microbiota modulation on feeding tolerance of enterally fed critically ill adult patients: a systematic review

Purpose The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the effect of pre-, pro-, and synbiotics on feeding tolerance of enterally fed critically ill adult patients. Methods MEDLINE, Science Direct, Web of Knowledge, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched up to November 2019. English language randomized controlled trials reporting the effect of pre, pro or synbiotics on the feeding tolerance of enterally fed critically ill adult patients were included. Results Overall, 15 papers were selected for review. Among six studies reporting the energy intake, only two studies showed significantly higher energy intake in the prebiotic-receiving groups. Among four RCTs reporting frequency or time to achieve the target calorie, only one found a significant effect of probiotics to reduce the time to achieve a target dose of calorie. About the prevalence or duration of diarrhea, 7 out of 12 RCTs reported a beneficial effect. All but one study found no beneficial effects for gut microbiota manipulation on clinical endpoints including length of stay (LOS) in hospital and intensive care unit (ICU). Conclusion It should be noticed that the heterogeneity in study designs, product format, and ICU patient populations makes it difficult to draw any general conclusion. Overall, it seems that pre, pro, or synbiotics have no significant beneficial effect on feeding tolerance and clinical endpoints in critically ill adults, but they may reduce the prevalence or duration of diarrhea.

Predicting The Feasibility of Small Bowel Feeding in Patients With Generalized Secondary Peritonitis

Finding a simple reproducible routine test is relevant for the determination of post-pyloric feeding tolerance.Aim. To evaluate in a pilot study the usefulness of acetaminophen absorption test with post-pyloric drug administration in patients with generalized secondary peritonitis.Materials and methods. Acetaminophen absorption test was performed in patients with generalized secondary peritonitis. 0.5 g of drug was administered into the lumen of the small intestine through the nasojejunal tube and after 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 90 min its blood level was determined. The first group (n=14) of variables was taken from patients whose test was performed immediately after the surgery. The second group results (n=10) were obtained from the same patients who were tested when they were able to absorb >1 l/day of enteral nutrition without signs of intolerance.Results. When comparing the concentration of acetaminophen in the blood after the drug administration into the bowel of patients with peritonitis immediately after surgery and at the time when the assimilation of bowel feeding had become possible, it was found that the most significant differences were detected within the time interval of 5–20 minutes after the drug administration (P<0.001). This time interval is optimal for harvesting blood samples during the acetaminophen test procedure.Conclusion. Bowel absorption of acetaminophen may be informative for predicting the feasibility of adequate post-pyloric enteral feeding of patients with generalized secondary peritonitis.

Effect of gut microbiota modulation on feeding tolerance of enterally-fed critically ill adult patients: a systematic review

Purpose: The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the effect of pre-, pro-, and synbiotics on feeding tolerance of enterally-fed critically ill adult patients. Methods: Medline, Science Direct, Web of Knowledge, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched up to November 2019. English language randomized controlled trials reporting the effect of pre, pro or synbiotics on the feeding tolerance of enterally-fed critically ill adult patients were included. Results: Overall, 15 papers were selected for review. Among six studies reporting the energy intake, only two studies showed significantly higher energy intake in the prebiotic-receiving groups. Among four RCTs reporting frequency or time to achieve the target calorie, only one found a significant effect of probiotics to reduce the time to achieve a target dose of calorie. About the prevalence or duration of diarrhea, 7 out of 12 RCTs reported a beneficial effect. All but one study found no beneficial effects for gut microbiota manipulation on clinical endpoints including length of stay (LOS) in hospital and intensive care unit (ICU). Conclusion: It should be noticed that the heterogeneity in study designs, product format, and ICU patient populations makes it difficult to draw any general conclusion. Overall, it seems that pre, pro or synbiotics have not significant beneficial effect on feeding tolerance and clinical endpoints in critically ill adults, but they may reduce the prevalence or duration of diarrhea.