Gastric Lipolysis and Fat Absorption in Preterm Infants: Effect of Medium-Chain Triglyceride or Long-Chain Triglyceride-Containing Formulas

The extent of gastric lipolysis, fat absorption, and infant weight gain was studied in 12 preterm infants (gestational age 28.75 ± 0.50 weeks, postnatal age 6.08 ± 0.81 weeks) fed medium-chain triglyceride or long-chain triglyceride formula for 1 week in a crossover design. The former formula contained 42% of 8:0 and 10:0 and 19% of 12:0, 14:0, and 16:0; the latter formula contained only 7% of 8:0 and 10:0 and 46% of 12:0, 14:0, and 16:0. Gastric aspirates were obtained on the second and third day of formula feeding for quantitation of lipase activity and of the extent of gastric lipolysis. Fat balance studies were conducted during the last three days of each feeding regimen. The study showed that (1) there was marked hydrolysis of formula fat in the stomach during feeding of either medium-chain triglyceride formula or long-chain triglyceride formula (20% and 16%, respectively); (2) lipase activity in the gastric aspirates was less during feeding of medium-chain triglyceride formula than before the meal, which suggested stimulation of lipase secretion by long-chain fatty acid released from long-chain triglyceride formula fat or more rapid binding of lipase to ingested lipid in the medium-chain triglyceride formula; (3) fatty acid distribution in glycerides and free fatty acids showed preferential release of medium-chain (8:0, 10:0) and long-chain unsaturated (18:1, 18:2) fatty acids in the stomach. The low content of 8:0 and 10:0 in gastric triglyceride and free fatty acids suggested that medium-chain fatty acids were absorbed directly in the stomach. (4) fat balance studies showed almost identical absorption rates (84.6% ± 3.1% and 82.8% ± 4.0%) and weight gain (23.0 ± 1.5 g/d and 20.8 ± 1.8 g/d) during feeding of either medium-chain triglyceride or long-chain triglyceride formula. In this study, in which each infant was fed either formula alternately, it was shown that although the extent of fat digestion varied among infants, medium-chain and long-chain triglyceride were absorbed to the same extent by most infants.