These results showed a benefit of supplementing formulas for premature infants with AA and DHA from either a fish/fungal or an egg-TG/fish source from the time of first enteral feeding to 12 months' CA.

Our data suggest that, despite a slower early growth rate, human milk fed LBW infants have development at least comparable to that of infants fed nutrient-enriched formula. Exploratory analysis suggests that some subgroups of human milk fed LBW infants may have enhanced development, although this needs to be confirmed in future studies.

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ABSTRACT'. The effects of feeding on gastrointestinal (GI) perfusion and oxygen transport in hypoxemic neonates is unknown. We evaluated these effects in unanesthetized, spontaneously breathing newborn piglets by comparing three experimental groups: nine hypoxemic piglets (mean P a 0 2 26 torr) which were fed with formula, six hypoxemic piglets (mean PaOz 27 torr) which were not fed, and four normoxemic piglets (mean P a 0 2 79 torr) which were fed and served as controls. The control-fed group exhibited an increase in stomach and small intestinal mucosal-submucosal blood flow within 30 min following feeding which was significantly greater than that observed in the hypoxemic fed piglets. GI O2 delivery and 0, uptake rose significantly (p c 0.05) following a meal secondary to increases in total GI blood flow. Oxygen extraction was unchanged postprandially in the control group. In the hypoxemic nonfed piglets, total and regional GI blood flow was unaltered during hypoxemia. Reductions in arterial Oz content led to significant decreases in GI 0, delivery. Gastrointestinal oxygen uptake remained stable with a compensatory increase in GI O2 extraction. In the hypoxemic-fed piglets, hypoxia significantly decreased stomach blood flow and led to unchanged blood flow in the remainder of the GI tract. Significant reductions in arterial Oz content and GI O2 delivery were observed, accompanied by significant increases in O2 extraction. Hypoxemic fed animals did not exhibit the expected increase in OZ uptake to meet postprandial metabolic demands. When the hypoxemic insult was terminated, fed piglets demonstrated significant total and regional GI hyperemia leading to increased GI Oz uptake when compared with hypoxemic nonfed piglets. We conclude that in the presence of hypoxemia, the newborn piglet's GI tract is subject to decreased oxygen availability. In contrast to the fasted GI tract, the fed GI tract exhibits a significant hyperemia following a limited period of severe hypoxemia and an ability to increase oxygen uptake in an attempt to meet the demands of nutrient absorption. Oxygen uptake is not increased to the same extent as in normoxemic fed animals, thus the efficiency of these mechanisms in satisfying the postprandial O2 demand remains to be determined. (Pediatr Res 21: 93-98, 1987 Controversy exists as to the advisability of feeding infants soon after a hypoxic insult. Feeding is generally withheld in neonates during and for variable periods following hypoxemia because of the increased metabolic demand it places on a compromised gastrointestinal tract and an association with the development of necrotizing enterocolitis (1). However, a recent clinical study in preterm infants with oxygen and ventilator requirements has shown that early enteral feedings may prove beneficial and do not increase the incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis (2).The awake newborn animal meets the postprandial oxidative demands associated with nutrient absorption through enhanced GI oxygen extraction and selective GI hyperemia (3,4). Studi...

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