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MEDIUM CHAIN TRIGLYCERIDES VERSUS LONG CHAIN TRIGLYCERIDES IN FEEDING OF PRETERM INFANTS

El Shaffee N.H,1 Hasan E.H,2 Nazif H.K.3 and Gamal El Deen M.Y.

1, 2 Pediatric and Clinical Pathology Departments, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University

3  Institute of Postgraduate Childhood Studies, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt

 

Objective: This study was done to determine the effect of using long chain triglycerides (LCT) containing formulas on the growth of preterm infants.

Methods: Hundred preterm infants were grouped into two groups, fifty as cases and fifty as controls.  Each group was further subdivided into two subgroups; appropriate for gestational age (AGA) and small for gestational age (SGA) preterm infants to study their growth pattern.  All infants started with medium chain triglyceride (MCT) preterm formula at birth.  The control group continued with the same MCT formula, while the case group changed gradually to (LCT) full term formula, in combination with the MCT preterm formula. The anthropometric measurements, blood chemistry, vitamin A and E levels in the blood as well as the lipolytic activity of gastric lipase, all were assessed for two weeks.

Results: The comparison of the results between the two main groups revealed that growth (weight, length and head circumference) of the case group, was better than the control group and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.0005).  The results also showed that the lipolytic activity of gastric lipase increased as the preterm grew.  There was also statistically significant differences (P<0.0005) between the two AGA groups as regards the lipolytic activity of the gastric lipase in favour of the case subgroup.  The comparison between the two SGA subgroups showed statistically significant difference in weight, lipolytic activity (P<0.005) and in head circumference (P<0.0005) in favour of the case subgroup.

Conclusion: Gradual introduction of LCT full term formula in combination with preterm MCT formula gave better growth rate as well as better lipolytic activity of gastric lipase in preterm infants.