Development of the Gastrointestinal Tract in Newborns as a Challenge for an Appropriate Nutrition: A Narrative Review

Flavia Indrio; Josef Neu; Massimo Pettoello-Mantovani; Flavia Marchese; Silvia Martini; Alessia Salatto; Arianna Aceti

doi:10.3390/nu14071405

journal article Open Access Mar 28, 2022

Development of the Gastrointestinal Tract in Newborns as a Challenge for an Appropriate Nutrition: A Narrative Review

Flavia Indrio

Josef Neu

Massimo Pettoello-Mantovani

Flavia Marchese Silvia Martini

Alessia Salatto Arianna Aceti

Nutrients Vol. 14 No. 7 pp. 1405 · MDPI AG

View at Publisher Save 10.3390/nu14071405

Abstract

The second and third trimesters of pregnancy are crucial for the anatomical and functional development of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. If premature birth occurs, the immaturity of the digestive and absorptive processes and of GI motility represent a critical challenge to meet adequate nutritional needs, leading to poor extrauterine growth and to other critical complications. Knowledge of the main developmental stages of the processes involved in the digestion and absorption of proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids, as well as of the maturational phases underlying the development of GI motility, may aid clinicians to optimize the nutritional management of preterm infants. The immaturity of these GI systems and functions may negatively influence the patterns of gut colonization, predisposing to an abnormal microbiome. This, in turn, further contributes to alter the functional, immune, and neural development of the GI tract and, especially in preterm infants, has been associated with an increased risk of severe GI complications, such as necrotizing enterocolitis. Deeper understanding of the physiological colonization patterns in term and preterm infants may support the promotion of these patterns and the avoidance of microbial perturbations associated with the development of several diseases throughout life. This review aims to provide a global overview on the maturational features of the main GI functions and on their implications following preterm birth. We will particularly focus on the developmental differences in intestinal digestion and absorption functionality, motility, gut–brain axis interaction, and microbiomes.

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Details

Published: Mar 28, 2022
Vol/Issue: 14(7)
Pages: 1405
License: View

Authors

F

Flavia Indrio

Department of Medical and Surgical Science, Pediatric Section, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy

J

Josef Neu

Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, University of Florida College of Medicine, 1600 SW Archer Road, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA

M

Massimo Pettoello-Mantovani

Department of Medical and Surgical Science, Pediatric Section, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy; European Pediatric Association, Union of National European Pediatric Societies and Associations, 10115 Berlin, Germany; Association pour l’Activité et la Recherche Scìentifiques, 2000 Nouchâtel, Switzerland; Department of Pediatrics, Scientific Institute ‘Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza’, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy

F

Flavia Marchese

Department of Medical and Surgical Science, Pediatric Section, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy

S

Silvia Martini

European Pediatric Association, Union of National European Pediatric Societies and Associations, 10115 Berlin, Germany; Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, IRCCS AOU Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy

A

Alessia Salatto

Division of Neonatology, Section of Pediatrics, Department of Translational Medical Sciences, “Federico II” University, 80138 Naples, Italy

A

Arianna Aceti

European Pediatric Association, Union of National European Pediatric Societies and Associations, 10115 Berlin, Germany; Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, IRCCS AOU Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy

Cite This Article

Flavia Indrio, Josef Neu, Massimo Pettoello-Mantovani, et al. (2022). Development of the Gastrointestinal Tract in Newborns as a Challenge for an Appropriate Nutrition: A Narrative Review. Nutrients, 14(7), 1405. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14071405

Development of the Gastrointestinal Tract in Newborns as a Challenge for an Appropriate Nutrition: A Narrative Review

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