Relationship between plasma levels of vasoactive intestinal peptide and feeding intolerance in preterm infants

Objective To study the changes of plasma vasoactive intestinal peptide(VIP) levels and the relationship of plasma VIP levels with feeding intolerance(FI) in preterm infants.Methods Plasma VIP concentrations were measured using radioimmunoassay in 53 preterm infants with FI 1,4,7 and 14 days after birth.Fifty-nine preterm infants without FI served as the control group.Results The fasting plasma concentrations of VIP in the FI group 1,4 and 7 days after birth(129±46,144±32 and 166±31 pg/mL respectively) were significantly lower than those in the control group(195±63,197±31 and 205±34 pg/mL respectively)(P0.05).The increased plasma VIP concentrations were associated with the increased gestational age,age in days and enteral feeding volume in the FI group.By 14 days,the plasma concentrations of VIP in the FI group(198±41 pg/mL) were similar to those in the control group(202±48 pg/mL)(P0.05).The younger the infant′s gestational age,the more prolonged the FI.Plasma levels of VIP on day 1 of life in the FI group were negatively correlated with the duration of FI(r=-0.799,P0.05).Conclusions Plasma levels of VIP might be related to the development of FI in preterm infants and might serve as a predictor of FI.