Abstract
To establish nutritional management of low birthweight infants according to their individual metabolic situation, hepatocellular partial function was studied in 13 appropriate (AGA) and 11 small-for-gestational-age (SGA) low birthweight (LBW) infants during the first weeks of postnatal life. The concentrations of total bile acids and of alpha-amino-nitrogen in serum, the renal excretion of urea and ammonia and the renal excretion of15N after enteral administration of 3 mg15N-labeled methacetin/kg were measured. In comparison to AGA infants, SGA infants had elevated serum concentrations of total bile acids and of alpha-amino-nitrogen, decreased excretion of urea, increased excretion of ammonia in urine, and lower urinary15N-excretion after enteral administration of15N-labeled methacetin. The data suggest that hepato-cellular functions are influenced by intrauterine growth retardation resulting in a reduced metabolic capacity in SGA infants. The metabolic differences between SGA and AGA infants should be considered in the nutritional management of LBW infants.
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Abbreviations
- AGA:
-
appropriate for gestational age
- IUGR:
-
intrauterine growth retardation
- LBW:
-
low birth weight
- SGA:
-
small for gestational age
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Boehm, G., Müller, D.M., Teichmann, B. et al. Influence of intrauterine growth retardation on parameters of liver function in low birth weight infants. Eur J Pediatr 149, 396–398 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02009657
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02009657