| Creators: |
Mihatsch, Walter A. and Pohlandt, Frank |
| Title: |
Oligosaccharides reduce stool viscosity and accelerate the gastro-intestinal transport in preterm infants |
| Item Type: |
Article or issue of a publication series |
| Journal or Series Title: |
Zeitschrift für Geburtshilfe und Neonatogie : ZGN |
| Page Range: |
V109 |
| Date: |
July 2005 |
| Divisions: |
Gesundheitsmanagement |
| Abstract: |
Objective: Feeding intolerance is common in preterm infants. A mixture of prebiotic non-digestible oligosaccharides (GosFos; referring to galacto- and fructo-oligosaccharides) has been suggested to reduce stool hardness and increase stool frequency. The aim of the current study was to investigate whether GosFos improve feeding tolerance in preterm infants on full enteral nutrition. We hypothesized that GosFos: 1) reduce stool viscosity and 2) accelerate gastro-intestinal transport.
Methods: In a placebo-controlled double-blinded trial 20 preterm infants on full enteral nutrition (gestational age 27(24–31) weeks, postnatal age 42 (11–84) days, and weight at study entry 1570 (1080–2300)g were randomly allocated to have their feedings supplemented with GosFos (1g/100mL) or placebo for 14 days. Stool viscosity was measured by the force (expressed as Newton, N) to press it through a predefined steel capillary (high pressure capillary rheometry) as previously reported. Gastro-intestinal transport was assessed as the time from feeding carmine red to its appearance in the diaper (GTT; gastro-intestinal transit time). The hypotheses were tested as a-priori-ordered hypotheses. Data is shown as median (minimum-maximum).
Results: There was no significant difference between the groups with regard to birth weight, gestational age, postnatal age, and weight at study entry. GosFos significantly reduced the stool viscosity measured by extrusion force (32 (2–67) vs. 158 (24–314) N) and the GTT (12 (4–33) vs. 26 (5–52)h).
Conclusion: Formula supplementation with GosFos improved feeding tolerance measured by reduced stool viscosity and accelerated gastro-intestinal transport. No adverse effects were observed. Further trials are required to investigate whether GosFos facilitates enteral feeding advancement and early enteral nutrition thereby reducing the incidence of catheter related nosocomial infections and improving long term outcome. |
| Forthcoming: |
No |
| Citation: |
Mihatsch, Walter A. and Pohlandt, Frank
(2005)
Oligosaccharides reduce stool viscosity and accelerate the gastro-intestinal transport in preterm infants.
Zeitschrift für Geburtshilfe und Neonatogie : ZGN, 209.
V109.
ISSN 0948-2393
|
