Abstract
We have shown previously that MCT are hydrolysed and absorbed from the stomach of suckling rats. We now report evidence that MCT are absorbed from the stomach of infants. Three groups of infants were chosen: 5 suffering from pyloric stenosis (P.S.), 7 from prematurity and 5 from miscellaneous problems. Infants with P.S. were chosen because of the delayed gastric emptying inherent to this condition so that the more rapid disappearance of MCT as compared to LCT must be due to absorption rather than to possibly more rapid gastric emptying of MCT. To each infant 10 ml/kg of formula were administered by gastric tube. Prematures received Enfalac (50% of fat as MCT) while the other groups received Pregestimil (40% MCT) (Mead-Johnson Co, Evansville, 111). Aliquots of 3 ml. were removed at 0, 20, 40 and 60 minutes. We found that in the P.S. group 35% of Total MCT were absorbed in the first hour. Corresponding figures for the prematures and the miscellaneous groups were 22.8% and 58.5% respecticely.C8 was absorbed more rapidly than C10. These results show that MCT are absorbed from the gastric mucosa of infants. In view of the presence of MCT in breast milk and in infant formulas, this may be of physiological importance.
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R, G., J, F., O, B. et al. HANDLING OF MEDIUM CHAIN TRIGLYCERIDES (MCT) IN THE HUMAN STOMACH. Pediatr Res 20, 698 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198607000-00075
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198607000-00075