Effects of different feeding methods on Ghrelin and growth and development of premature infants

Objective To compare the effects of different feeding methods on plasma Ghrelin (a peptide hormone) level, growth and development of premature infants. Methods A total of 147 cases of very low birth weight newborn were randomly divided into nasogastric tube feeding group (group A, 38 cases) , nasogastric tube feeding combined with non-nutritional sucking group (group B, 39 cases) , nasogastric tube feeding combined with infantile touching group (group C, 34 cases) , nasogastric tube feeding combined with non-nutritional sucking and infantile touching group (group D, 36 cases) . Anthropometric indicators and plasma Ghrelin levels of premature infants before and after the feeding were compared among four groups. Results At 2 weeks post admission, the body weight of premature infants in four groups were (1 503±206) g (group A) , (1 487±211) g (group B) , (1 494±228) g (group C) , and (1 615±242) g (group D) . The differences between group D and other groups were statistically significant (t=2.004, 2.262, 2.061; P<0.05) . At 4 weeks post admission, the plasma Ghrelin levels of premature infants in four groups were (38.3±7.4) μg/L (group A) , (39.3±6.9) μg/L (group B) , (35.7±6.6) μg/L (group C) , and (34.5±9.1) μg/L (group D) . The increases of plasma Ghrelin levels between group A and group C or D were statistically significant (t=2.65, 5.20; P<0.05) . Similar results were also observed between group B and group C or D (t=3.01, 5.79; P<0.05) . Conclusions Nasogastric tube feeding combined with non-nutritional sucking and infantile touching is efficient in improving quality of life of very low birth weight newborns and saving medical cost. Key words: Very low birth weight premature infants; Tube feeding; Non-nutritive sucking; Touch