Postprandial plasma amino acids in preterm infants: influence of the protein source.

Preprandial plasma amino acid concentrations have been used extensively as a marker of the nutritional value of dietary proteins in preterm infants. This study investigated the postprandial plasma amino acid profiles of preterm infants fed with different dietary proteins at similar protein intakes during the first weeks of life. In 12 preterm infants, pre- and postprandial plasma amino acid concentrations were measured before the removal of an indwelling central venous catheter placed for parenteral nutrition.

Postnatal development of urea synthesis capacity in preterm infants with intrauterine growth retardation.

The postnatal development of the urea-synthesizing capacity was studied in 21 preterm infants with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) and compared with results found in 12 infants without IUGR as controls. The urea-synthesizing capacity was estimated by the ratio Q of 15N abundance of ammonia and urea in 6-hour urine samples collected after enteral administration of 3 mg [15N]H4Cl/kg body weight. The measurements were performed on the first day when a protein intake of 3.

Docosahexaenoic and arachidonic acid absorption in preterm infants fed LCP-free or LCP-supplemented formula in comparison to infants fed fortified breast milk.

The absorption of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCP) with particular respect to docosahexaenoic (DHA) and arachidonic acid (AA) has been studied in 39 very-low-birth-weight infants appropriate for gestational age after a 10-day feeding period. The infants were fed either a LCP-supplemented formula (n = 11), or a LCP-free formula (n = 11) or breast milk fortified with protein and carbohydrates to have similar protein and energy intakes as in the formula-fed infants (n = 17). Total fat content and fatty acid profile were measured in the human milk, the two formulas, and in the stool samples.

Bile acid concentrations in serum and duodenal aspirates of healthy preterm infants: effects of gestational and postnatal age.

In 41 healthy human-milk-fed preterm infants the preprandial total bile acid (BA) concentrations in serum and duodenal juice were simultaneous measured during the first 60 days of life. The infants were subdivided into four groups according to their gestational age: 6 infants with a gestational age of 27 and 28 weeks, 7 infants with a gestational age of 29 and 30 weeks, 21 infants with a gestational age of 31 and 32 weeks and 7 infants with a gestational age of 33 and 34 weeks. The BA levels were enzymatically determined using 3-alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase.

Limited fat digestion in infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

In 10 hyaline membrane disease patients with development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia, 16 hyaline membrane disease patients without development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and 12 very-low-birthweight infants without major medical problems, we measured the lipase and trypsin activity as well as the bile acids concentrations in preprandially aspirated duodenal juice. In addition, fat and nitrogen balances were performed during the 5th and 6th weeks of postnatal life. The mean duodenal lipase activity in the patients with bronchopulmonary dysplasia was significantly lower than those of the patients without bronchopulmonary dysplasia (4.

Fecal cholesterol excretion in preterm infants fed breast milk or formula with different cholesterol contents.

In 44 very low-birth-weight infants, fecal cholesterol excretion was measured and in 29 other infants serum total cholesterol concentrations in response to different cholesterol intakes were studied. The infants received fortified breast milk (mean cholesterol content 15.3 mg/dl) or were fed either a standard preterm formula (cholesterol content 5.

Activities of trypsin and lipase in duodenal aspirates of healthy preterm infants: effects of gestational and postnatal age.

Lipase and trypsin activities were estimated in preprandially aspirated duodenal juice of preterm infants with gestational ages between 29 and 32 weeks (group I, n = 33) or between 33 and 36 weeks (group II, n = 22) during the first 6 weeks of postnatal life. The results were compared with the enzyme activities measured in 2- to 6-year-old children. There were no significant differences of the mean lipase or trypsin activities between the two groups lipase; group I 13.