Abstract
We investigated the effect of early life nutrition on growth and intestinal microflora in low-birthweight infants. Eleven preterm newborns (birth weight 1456±293g, gestational age 3O.6±1.2 weeks) received special preterm infant formula as a sole diet from the first enteral feeding until the end of the second month of life (preterm infant formula group (PF group)). Thirteen infants (birth weight 1728±276g; gestational age 32.6±1.4 weeks) received standard casein-dominant infant formulas available in Estonia (standard formula group (SF group)). Growth parameters were measured at the age of 1,2,3,4 weeks and 2 months. Faecal samples for short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and bacterial cultures were collected at the age of 6 days and 2 months. Two results have been received: better growth and better microbial colonization in the group of preterm infant formula. There was significantly higher weight gain in the PF group at the age of 2 months (1 814±566 g) than in the SF group (1255±365 g). The relative amount of coagulase negative staphylococci was significantly higher in the SF group at the age of 6 days in comparison with the PF group. At the age of 6 days the prevalence of faecal acetic acid was 98% of total concentration of short chain fatty acids in the PF group and 87% in the SF group (p
Highlights
Development of intestinal microflora and respectively the profile of faecal short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), as well as infant growth depend on the food character, immunological and environmental factors [1,2,3,4,5]
PF group neonates were transferred from Tartu Maternity Hospital which was equipped with preterm infant formula (PF) to be given to the infants from their first enteral feeding
The control group (SF group) infants were referred from other maternities that were not equipped with PF
Summary
Development of intestinal microflora and respectively the profile of faecal SCFAs, as well as infant growth depend on the food character (breast-feeding, formulafeeding), immunological and environmental factors [1,2,3,4,5]. Insufficient contact with the mother and the usual formula feeding have been altering the composition of microflora of preterm neonates: the delayed colonisation with lactobacilli and bifidobacteria, on one hand, and the high counts of opportunistic microorganisms like coagulase negative staphylococci (CONS),enterococci,enterobacteria and candida, on the other hand, have been described. The latter microorganisms are the most frequent etiological agents of neonatal infections [6,7]. Correspondence: Anne Ormisson, Dept of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital, Univ. This study was designed to compare the body weight gain and composition of intestinal microflora and faecal SCFAs of preterm infants receiving different formulas during their first two postnatal months
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