Gastric response in low birth weight infants fed various formulas.

Feeding techniques, delayed gastric emptying, volume overload, or reverse peristalsis may lead to regurgitation and aspiration in the premature infant. Noting these complications, various aspects of gastric function were studied in relation to the type of formula fed. 27 low birth weight infants (less than 2,000 g) were each fed one of three randomly assigned commercial formulas, which varied in osmolarity and MCT content. Gastric pH and emptying were monitored during the first 48 h of life. The fatty acid chain length of the triglyceride in the formula apparently did not influence either gastric pH or emptying. Infants fed formulas having a higher osmolar load (539 mosm/1) and containing protein hydrolysate showed greater gastric retention.