Faecal excretion in infants.

Data on normal defaecation patterns in relation to diet during the first months of infancy are very limited. We therefore investigated in a prospective study faecal weight and gastro-intestinal passage time of breast fed (n = 12) and formula fed (n = 14) male infants. These were studied in 72 h collecting periods at the age of 17, 35, 57, 87 and 113 (+/- 4) days.

[Sodium and potassium metabolism in infancy].

Background: Recommendations for the concentration of most nutrients in infant formulas are based on their concentration in human milk. Industry succeeded in adapting sodium and potassium content in infant formulas to concentration found in human milk. Whether this adaptation affects on infants' mineral balances was studied in breast-fed and artificially-fed infants.

Iron availability from an infant formula supplemented with bovine lactoferrin.

Iron balance studies were performed in 16 term infants from their 3rd until their 17th week of life. The balance studies were performed at home and comprised five periods with an interval of 3 to 4 weeks, each consisting of three 24-hour collections of milk and stool samples. Seven infants were fed an adapted infant formula supplemented with bovine lactoferrin (100 mg/100 ml) and nine received the same formula without lactoferrin.

[Arterial thrombosis in a premature infant].

A preterm infant of 30 weeks gestation developed thrombosis of the left arteria femoralis on his fourth day of life. Continuous intravenous heparinization with 350 to 750 U/kg bw/d was performed during the course of several weeks. Although arterial thrombosis in term and preterm infants is not a rare event, there are no generally accepted guidelines for treatment.

Selenium balances in young infants fed on breast milk and adapted cow's milk formula.

Selenium intake, renal and fecal excretion, and retention were determined in 11 breast-fed term infants and in 9 term infants fed with an adapted cow's milk formula. In most cases three-day-balances were determined five times at the age of 2, 5, 8, 12, and 16 weeks. Analytical determination of selenium was by atomic absorption spectroscopy with a selenium hybrid system after wet ashing of samples.