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Effects of Mucin upon Growth of Low Birth‐Weight Infants and Their Intestinal Microflora
Author(s) -
Inoue Kentaro,
Nagayama Tokuro
Publication year - 1970
Publication title -
pediatrics international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.49
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1442-200X
pISSN - 1328-8067
DOI - 10.1111/j.1442-200x.1970.tb02802.x
Subject(s) - mucin , feces , medicine , lactulose , body weight , gastroenterology , physiology , breast feeding , low birth weight , breast milk , zoology , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry , biology , pediatrics , pregnancy , pathology , genetics
Summary Purified hog gastric mucin was administered to low birth‐weight infants at a dose of 7 mg per kg body weight per day and the following results were obtained: 1) The rate of body‐weight increase was higher in the mucin‐administered group than in the nonadministered group. 2) In regard to the intestinal microflora of the mucin‐administered group, L. bifidus became predominant and the pH value of the feces was lowered. Thus, a likeness in fecal properties to breast‐fed infants was brought about in bottle‐fed infants. 3) In addition to mucin, when lactulose was administered at a dose of 0.8 g per kg body weight per day, the enhanced growth of intestinal L. bifidus and the lowered pH value were more profound from the possible synnergistic action than in the group administered with mucin alone. From these results, the supplementation of powdered milk with mucin enhances the growth of bottle‐fed infants and brings about a likeness in fecal properties to breast‐fed infants. Further supplementation with lactulose results in much more likeness in fecal properties to breast‐fed infants.