Gastric electrical activity in normal neonates during the first year of life: effect of feeding with breast milk and formula

Background. To evaluate the effect of feeding with milk on the gastrointestinal tract, we studied gastric electrical activity in 27 healthy fullterm newborns (15 formula-fed newborns and 12 breast-fed newborns) during the first 6 months of life. Methods. Three-hour electrogastrography (EGG) recordings were performed, using portable equipment, from the third to fifth day after birth until 6 months, at 3-month intervals. The EGG parameters were calculated as raw and integrated data, the latter as AUC of the whole postprandial period. Results. There was a significant difference in the fasting 3-cpm activity between the two groups (repeated measures analysis of variance [ANOVA] P = 0.02; multiple comparisons: formula milk at birth vs breast milk at birth P < 0.001). In addition, a significant change in the percentage of postprandial bradygastria was found at 6 months, 1 month after weaning (repeated measures ANOVA, P = 0.01; multiple comparisons: formula milk at 6 months vs formula milk at 3 months, P = 0.03, formula milk at 6 months vs formula milk at birth, P = 0.02; breast milk at 6 months vs breast milk at 3 months, P = 0.03, breast milk at 6 months vs breast milk at birth P = 0.02). Conclusions. An adult-like gastric 3-cpm activity can be observed in breast-fed newborns in contrast to formula-fed ones, probably as an effect of colostrum. The high bradygastria percentage recorded at 6 months of life might be the result of an increased low-frequency component of the EGG signal because of the transition to a mixed diet.