Effect of feeding an infant formula with high energy density on gastric emptying in infants with congenital heart disease.

Gastric emptying of meals of standard infant formula and formula fortified with a glucose polymer (Caloreen) were compared in 7 infants with severe congenital heart disease aged 9 days to 5 months. A marker dilution technique was used in estimating gastric emptying. Gastric half-emptying times were significantly longer for meals containing Caloreen than for meals of standard infant formula. Although significantly smaller amount of meal containing Caloreen had left the stomach after 2 hours, the net transfer of energy to the intestine was larger than after feeding a standard meal.