Plasma glucose levels in exclusively breastfed newborns in the first 48 hours of life in Ile-Ife Nigeria.

Glucose is the major substrate for brain metabolism and its homeostasis is very important especially in the newborn period. The brain gets 99% of its energy from oxidation of glucose. Hypoglycemia is defined as a plasma glucose level less than 1.7 mmol (30 mg/dl) in a full term neonate (less than 72 hours old) especially if prolonged is associated with permanent neurological impairment and death. It is therefore important that the newborn has adequate supply of glucose especially in the first few days of life. Our study has shown that exclusively breastfed neonates have adequate glucose supply in the first 48 hours of life as have been documented by others. Seven neonates were hypoglycemic at birth and by the end of the first 12 hours of life only one was still hypoglycemic. These suggest that the mothers of the neonates were producing adequate milk for their babies since this is the only external source of glucose in these neonates. (excerpt)