Abstract
Nonglucose carbohydrates such as galactose, mannose, and inositol play a clinically important role in fetal and neonatal nutrition, though little is known about their metabolism in the neonate. The aim of this study was to determine whether postprandial changes in plasma carbohydrate and sugar alcohol concentrations are affected by clinical variables such as postnatal age (PNA), milk type, feeding volume, or feeding duration in term newborns. Neonates (n = 26) taking intermittent enteral feedings were enrolled. Blood samples were obtained at baseline (immediately before the start of a feeding) and at 2–3 subsequent time points up to 110 min. Postprandial rise was only observed for plasma glucose concentrations [Glu] and plasma galactose concentrations [Gal] and clinical variables did not predict this change. Despite equimolar delivery in milk, the median of [Glu] rise minus [Gal] rise from baseline to second postprandial plasma sample was 674 μM (−38, 3333 μM; p < 0.0001), reflecting efficient hepatic first-pass metabolism of galactose. A significant PNA effect on [Gal] was observed such that for each day PNA there was an 18% decrease in [Gal] (p = 0.03). [Gal] are a function of PNA, suggesting maintenance of a significant ductus venosus shunt in term infants.
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Abbreviations
- DV:
-
ductus venosus
- [Gal]:
-
plasma galactose concentrations
- [Glu]:
-
plasma glucose concentrations
- IDMs:
-
infants of a diabetic mothers
- PNA:
-
postnatal age
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This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health grant 5 RO1 HD34837-06, Fetal Velocimetry and Amino Acid Transport in Pregnancy, The General Clinical Research Centers Program, National Centers for Research Resources, NIH, grant number MO1 RR00069, Research Institute of The Children's Hospital of Denver.
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Brown, L., Cavalli, C., Harwood, J. et al. Plasma Concentrations of Carbohydrates and Sugar Alcohols in Term Newborns after Milk Feeding. Pediatr Res 64, 189–193 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1203/PDR.0b013e3181761888
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/PDR.0b013e3181761888
