Impaired assimilation of nasojejunal feeds in healthy low-birth-weight newborn infants.

We compared nasojejunal with nasogastric tube feeding in 18 healthy low-birth-weight infants from eight to 15 days of age. NJ-fed infants had significantly more stools and excreted significantly more fat and potassium in their stools. Growth and weight gain did not differ between the groups during the study period. Future use of NJ feeding in LBW infants should take into account the possibility of malabsorption associated with this technique.