Dear Jessica.
I looked it up in Riordan and Wambach:
"Infants can digest breastmilk much more rapidly then formula. The average
gastric half-emptying time for breastmilk is substantially less (48 minutes)
than for formula (78 minutes)
Cavell, 1981)"
Cavell B Gastric emptying in infants fed human milk or infant formula. Acta
Paediatr Scand. 1981;70;639-641
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7324911
Then a started a search on the internet using scholar.google.com
Int J Clin Pract.<javascript:AL_get(this,%20'jour',%20'Int%20J%20Clin%20Pract.');>2008
Jul;62(7):1039-43.
Human milk fortification and gastric emptying in the preterm neonate.
Gathwala G<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22Gathwala%20G%22%5BAuthor%5D>,
Shaw C <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22Shaw%20C%22%5BAuthor%5D>,
Shaw P <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22Shaw%20P%22%5BAuthor%5D>,
Yadav S<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22Yadav%20S%22%5BAuthor%5D>,
Sen J <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%22Sen%20J%22%5BAuthor%5D>.
Department of Pediatrics, Pt. B.D. Sharma Postgraduate Institute of Medical
Sciences (PGIMS), Rohtak, India
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18422595>
Another article
<
http://journals.lww.com/jpgn/Abstract/1999/07000/Gastric_Emptying_in_Formula_Fed_and_Breast_Fed.13.aspx
>
Background: The 13C-octanoic acid breath test, a noninvasive method for
measuring gastric emptying, was used to compare the gastric-emptying rate of
formula-fed and breast-fed infants. Octanoic acid, a medium-chain fatty acid
marked with the stable isotope 13C is immediately absorbed in the duodenum.
Because gastric emptying is the rate-limiting step for the absorption of
medium-chain fatty acids, the fraction of 13C expired in the breath
indicates the rate of gastric emptying.
Methods: Twenty-nine newborn infants (16 boys, 13 girls) were investigated,
with parental consent. The infants had a mean gestational age at birth of
34.5 weeks (range, 27-41 weeks) and a birth weight of 2148 g (range,
960-4100 g). Their mean weight on the day of the test was 2496 g (range,
1998-4140 g), and their mean age was 23 days (range, 7-74 days). Each infant
received a test meal after a maximum fasting period of 3 hours. Fourteen
infants were fed formula milk (Nutrilon Premium, NV Nutricia, Zoetermeer,
The Netherlands) with 13C-octanoic acid and 15 infants received expressed
mother's milk mixed with 13C-octanoic acid. After obtaining two basal breath
samples and the feeding, breath samples were collected using a nasal prong,
every 5 minutes during the first half hour and every 15 minutes during the
next 3.5 hours. Analysis of the expired 13C fraction in the breath samples
was performed using isotope-ratio mass spectrometry, and the gastric
emptying curve and gastric emptying parameters were determined.
Results: The mean half-emptying time determined by the 13C-octanoic acid
breath test was 65 minutes (range, 27-98 minutes) for the formula fed
infants and 47 minutes (range, 16-86 minutes) for the breast-fed infants.
The difference between the half-emptying times is significant
(*t*-test, *p*< 0.05).
Conclusions: The results of the 13C-octanoic acid breath test indicated
faster gastric emptying of human milk than formula. Our findings are in
accordance with those in earlier studies, using the invasive-dilution
technique; noninvasive and detailed ultrasonography, which is not easily
used because it is operator dependent and the observation time is short; or
cineesophagogastroscintigraphy, which is less suitable for infants (because
of the radiation involved). The 13C-octanoic acid breath test is a safe and
noninvasive method for measuring gastric emptying in small infants and
allows comparison of various feeding methods.
WarmLLLy Marijke Frings
Nutritionist MS, IBCLC, LLLL-leader
2010/4/4 Jessica L. Callahan <[log in to unmask]>
> I am looking for any articles which discusses the amount of time that
> breastmilk digests. The NICU in our hospital uses a three hour feeding
> schedule for all their infants (breastmilk or artificial milk). When
> breastmilk feed infants do not gain enough weight they tend to 'supplement
> with artificial milk'. I have tried to explain that breastmilk digestion is
> much faster then others but they (neonatoligist) want written proof
> (research).
>
> Thank You,
> Jessica Callahan RN, IBCLC
>
> ***********************************************
>
> Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html
> To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]
> Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask]
> COMMANDS:
> 1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set
> lactnet nomail
> 2. To start it again: set lactnet mail
> 3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
> 4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome
>
--
Lactatiekundig en Voedingskundig Advies
Ir. Marijke Frings
Laurenburg 229
6006 GR Weert
Mobiel: 06 4086 5578
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
***********************************************
Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html
To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]
Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask]
COMMANDS:
1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail
2. To start it again: set lactnet mail
3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome
|
