Studies on the effect of orally administered agar on the serum bilirubin level of premature infants and mature newborns.

The effect of orally administered agar on the serum concentration of bilirubin was tested in 366 premature and newborn infants. For this purpose two different concentrations of agar were added to the milk for 8-10 days. On none of the groups tested did the serum level of bilirubin show a significant decrease after administration of agar. Therefore the attempt to lower the level of serum bilirubin in premature and newborn infants by inhibiting enteric reabsorption by means of adsorbents must be considered a failure.