BOLUS VERSUS CONTINUOUS FEEDINGS STIMULATE SMALL-INTESTINAL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE NEWBORN PIG

Although bolus and continuous tube feedings are common, little is know n about their effect on the developing small intestine. To compare the ir effect on small-intestinal growth and differentiation, six pairs of 3-day-old piglet littermates were randomized to receive similar volum es of sow milk replacer, either by bolus (four times daily, group B) o r continuous feedings (over 24 h, group C) for 7 days. The piglets wer e then killed and small-intestinal length, weight, protein mass, and d isaccharidase activities were determined. Small-intestinal mucosal wei ght and ileal protein mass were greater in group B than in group C (p = 0.0024 and 0.019, respectively). No differences were noted between g roups in jejunal mucosal protein mass. Ileal maltase activity also was greater in group B than group C (p = 0.02). Although ileal lactase ac tivity in group B was twice that in group C, the differences did not q uite reach statistical significance (p = 0.11). No differences between groups were noted in ileal or jejunal sucrase activity. Our study dem onstrated that bolus feedings increased mucosal mass, protein mass, an d maltase activity to a greater degree than continuous feedings. These results may have clinical significance for infants receiving long-ter m tube feedings.