Abstract
Although nitrogen balance studies have been carried out in low-birth-weight infants, few have partitioned the nitrogen into its components. In this study, 72-hour balance studies were conducted in 24 low-birth-weight infants (gestational age, 30.7 ± 1.6 weeks; birth weight 1.36 ± 0.25 kg) fed their mothers' milk (preterm milk) or 50% preterm milk and 50% formula. Total nitrogen, nonprotein nitrogen, and whey protein intake and excretion were measured. Total nitrogen intake (preterm milk group, 452 ± 138 mg/kg per day; preterm + formula group, 406 ± 93 mg/kg per day), absorption (85%), and retention (71%) were not significantly different between groups. Intact and fragments of secretory IgA and lactoferrin were detected in soluble fecal extracts, and represented 25% and 9% of intake, respectively. Feeding preterm milk allows for nitrogen accretion similar to intrauterine growth rates for 5 weeks postnatally, and provides potentially functional proteins for the low-birth-weight infant.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1485-1491 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | American Journal of Diseases of Children |
Volume | 143 |
Issue number | 12 |
State | Published - 1989 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health