Respiratory Metabolism in Infancy and in Childhood

Energy Intake, Norepinephrine Excretion, and Oxygen Consumption in Low Birthweight Infants

“…Recent reports document positive correlations among energy intake, growth, and V0 2 in preterm infants (3). Previous animal studie s have also demonstrated the influence s of energy and protein intake on V0 2 (4-6).Thou gh numerous studies have been performed defining the effect of various components of nutrition on V0 2 in human infants (7,8), none has addressed the potential mechanism. In obese adults and laboratory animals, starvation produces a marked diminution in the sympathetic nervous syste m (SNS) act ivity as manifested by both norepinephrine turnover and urinary excretion of both norepinephrine and its metabolites (9, 10).…”

“…Thou gh numerous studies have been performed defining the effect of various components of nutrition on V0 2 in human infants (7,8), none has addressed the potential mechanism. In obese adults and laboratory animals, starvation produces a marked diminution in the sympathetic nervous syste m (SNS) act ivity as manifested by both norepinephrine turnover and urinary excretion of both norepinephrine and its metabolites (9, 10).…”