GASTRIC EMPTYING OF WATER AND GLUCOSE SOLUTIONS IN THE NEWBORN

A technique of measuring gastric emptying in the newborn by serial test meals is described. Test-meals of water, 5% glucose, and 10% glucose were given to 13 infants. The results obtained in infants are comparable with those in adults: the higher the concentration of the glucose solution, the slower the gastric emptying. Despite the slower emptying of 10% glucose this solution may be preferable to 5% glucose when oral glucose is used for intermittent feeding, because more glucose is delivered to the small intestine per unit time.