[Absorption of proteins, carbohydrates and fats in the preterm neonate].

Abstract Protein, fat and carbohydrate absorption in preterm infants fed on human milk or formulae are reviewed. Even in the most premature infants absorption of protein is satisfactory. Nitrogen net absorption is about 85-90% of intake and results slightly lower with human milk than with formulae. The lower apparent digestibility of human milk is probably due to the poorly degraded IgA immunoglobulins and the rapid transit time. Lactose is well tolerated by the preterm infants despite the low lactase activity at birth. Glucose polymers, which have a low osmotic activity and are suitable for increasing carbohydrate intake of formulae, are well absorbed probably for the activity of salivary amylase and brush border glucoamylase, which have been shown to be well developed at birth. Premature infants absorb fat poorly. This malabsorption that increases with the lowering of gestational age is due to low pancreatic lipase activity and to low intraluminal concentration of bile salts. Due to its bile stimulated lipase activity, non-heat-treated human milk used at least in part is an effective method to improve fat absorption in preterm infants. Faecal energy determined using a calorimetric bomb appears to be a simple and an accurate method to predict faecal fat and avoiding expensive and cumbersome analysis.