Faecal excretion in infants

Abstract

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. Breast fed infants had a significantly lower daily dry faecal weight than formula fed infants in all periods investigated (median at the age of 113 days: 0.28 (0.17-0.75) g/kg and 0.81 (0.22-1.2) g/kg, respectively). Breast fed infants showed a large variation of gastro-intestinal passage time (6.79 h [range: 1.79-13.38 h] at the age of 17 days, 21.84 h [range: 5.41-75 h] at the age of 113 days). Comparable values of formula red infants were 13.75 h (range: 7.13-35.25 h) and 17.42 h (range: 5.38-36.5 h). Despite the efforts of approximation of infant formula to breast milk, differences of defaecation patterns in relation to diet are still relevant at this age and have to be considered in clinical practice.