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Trace elements and mineral requirements for very low birth weight infants in rickets of prematurity
M Takada1, M Shimada, S Hosono
1Department of Pediatrics, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Insights
Very low birth weight infants fed only mother's milk may need calcium, phosphorus, copper, and zinc supplementation to prevent bone mineral disorders. Further research is needed to clarify the relationship between these nutrients and bone health in preterm infants.
Area of Science:
- Neonatology
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Mineral Metabolism
Background:
- Bone mineral disorder is a risk for very low birth weight (VLBW) infants.
- Infants fed only mother's milk may have higher risk.
- Calcium and phosphorus supplementation are considered crucial for prevention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine mineral and trace element requirements for VLBW infants.
- To investigate the role of copper and zinc in bone health.
- To clarify the relationship between nutrients and bone metabolic disease in preterm infants.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on mineral and trace element needs in VLBW infants.
- Analysis of the role of copper and zinc as enzyme cofactors in collagen synthesis.
- Assessment of current understanding of nutrient deficiencies in exclusively breastfed VLBW infants.
Main Results:
- Mother's milk may not provide sufficient copper and zinc for VLBW infants.
- Calcium and phosphorus are recognized as important for bone health.
- The precise relationship between trace elements, minerals, and bone disease in preterm infants remains unclear.
Conclusions:
- Establishing optimal mineral and trace element requirements is vital for VLBW infants.
- Supplementation with calcium, phosphorus, copper, and zinc may be necessary.
- Further research is essential to fully elucidate the impact of these nutrients on bone metabolism in preterm infants.
Abstract:
To establish mineral and trace element requirements for very low birth it is important to prevent bone mineral disorder. Those infants fed mother's milk only are thought to be at higher risk of this disorder. Both calcium and phosphorus supplementation were thought to be needed to prevent it. Copper and zinc are important as cofactors of major enzymes involved in the synthesis of collagen. These trace elements especially zinc may not be enough for very low birth weight infants fed mother's milk. At present however the relationship between these trace elements and minerals, and bone metabolic disease in preterm infants is not completely clear.