agar and Birth-Weight

Eighty low birthweight infants (1500 to 2500 g) were randomly assigned to a group given oral agar and a control group. The study was first performed in 24 agar-fed babies and 24 control babies. The treated infants received a daily total amount of 600 mg/kg of agar beginning at 12 hours of age, for 7 days. In the later stage of the trial, 16 agar-fed babies and 16 control babies were investigated. The total daily amount of agar was raised to 700 mg/kg, beginning at 6 hours of age for 7 days. No complications were observed with the administration of agar. Serum bilirubin levels were not significantly lower in the agar-fed infants. We conclude that agar supplemented feeding is not indicated in the management of hyperbilirubinaemia in low birthweight newborn infants.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Agar; Bilirubin; Birth Weight; Clinical Trials as Topic; Female; Gestational Age; Humans; Hyperbilirubinemia; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Premature, Diseases; Male

Topics: Administration, Oral; Agar; Bilirubin; Birth Weight; Female; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Jaundice, Neonatal; Male; Methods; Phototherapy

Topics: Agar; Bacteria; Bilirubin; Birth Weight; Blood Group Antigens; Body Weight; Clinical Trials as Topic; Feces; Female; Glucuronidase; Hematocrit; Humans; Hyperbilirubinemia; Infant, Newborn; Intestinal Absorption; Intestinal Mucosa; Intestines; Jaundice, Neonatal; Leukocyte Count; Liver; Male; Reticulocytes

49 jaundiced, nonimmunized newborn infants with a birth weight of more than 2,000 g were given phototherapy with white light for more than 36 h. The average period of treatment was 61 h. 24 infants received 250 mg agar at the beginning of each meal at 3-hour intervals during phototherapy. 25 infants received phototherapy only. Serum bilirubin levels were decreased similarly in both groups. It is concluded that ingestion of agar does not supplement the effect of phototherapy.

Topics: Agar; Age Factors; Bilirubin; Birth Weight; Gestational Age; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Jaundice, Neonatal; Phototherapy

Topics: ABO Blood-Group System; Agar; Bilirubin; Birth Weight; Breast Feeding; Depression, Chemical; Female; Humans; Infant Food; Infant, Newborn; Jaundice, Neonatal; Male; Rh-Hr Blood-Group System

Topics: Agar; Age Factors; Animals; Birth Weight; Blood Protein Electrophoresis; Female; Fetus; Gels; Humans; Immunodiffusion; Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Infant, Newborn; Lipoproteins; Milk; Staining and Labeling; Time Factors

Topics: Agar; Animals; Birth Weight; Cattle; Electrophoresis; Embryo, Mammalian; Female; Fertility; Heterozygote; Homozygote; Insemination, Artificial; Male; Mortality; Pedigree; Phenotype; Polymorphism, Genetic; Pregnancy; Transferrin