| Why do massaged infants gain more weight? The mediating mechanism for greater weight gain in the massaged newborns cannot
be determined from these studies.
- One proposed mechanism is that the massaged infants may by
stimulated to eat more. However, in the studies sited this was
NOT a factor.
The massaged and control groups had, on average:
- the same caloric consumption
- the same amount of
regurgitation
- the same amount of stools
- Another hypothesis was that massaged neonates were less active
and slept more, thus conserving calories. However, studies
show that massaged neonates actually spent more time in
active awake states
(Note that in most studies, only exclusively
bottle fed infants were included so that food intake cold be
more precisely measured.)
Other possible mechanisms for weight gain in massaged infants:
- Increased basal metabolic function
- Increased weight gain efficiency from increased activity
- Increased vagal tone, enhancing gastric motility and release of food
absorption hormones.
- A study by Miguel Diego et al. published 2005 in the Journal
of Pediatics indicated an increase in vagal tone and gastric
motility during and immediately after massage treatment.
These factors were significantly related to weight gain.
Conclusion:
Although massaged infants do not eat more, they are better able to
use what they eat and therefore grow faster than those without massage.
The exact mechanism for this is not entirely understood but studies so
far indicate that increased vagal tone may contribute.
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