Molybdenum in the premature infant

Area of Science:

• Nutritional Biochemistry
• Pediatric Nutrition
• Trace Element Metabolism

Background:

• Molybdenum (Mo) is an essential trace element crucial for the activity of several enzymes, including xanthine oxidase.
• Adequate Mo intake is vital for infant development, particularly for premature infants who have different nutritional needs compared to full-term infants.
• Understanding Mo bioavailability from different feeding sources is important for optimizing infant nutrition.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare molybdenum (Mo) levels in plasma and urine of premature and full-term infants.
• To assess the relationship between Mo intake, plasma Mo, and urine uric acid excretion in infants.
• To evaluate the bioavailability of Mo from breast milk versus infant formulas.

Main Methods:

• Measured plasma and urine Mo levels in 30 premature and 15 full-term infants.
• Assessed Mo intake from breast milk, infant formulas, and premature formulas.
• Quantified urine uric acid excretion using the uric acid/creatinine ratio.

Main Results:

• Breast milk supplied significantly less Mo compared to infant formulas for premature infants.
• Preterm infants fed breast milk showed similar or higher plasma and urine Mo levels than formula-fed infants.
• A significant correlation was found between urine Mo and Mo intake, and between plasma Mo and uric acid excretion in preterm infants.

Conclusions:

• Breast milk Mo appears to have higher bioavailability than formula Mo, as indicated by Mo levels and uric acid excretion.
• Urine uric acid excretion may serve as a functional index of Mo status in infants.
• Further balance trials are needed to define the Mo requirements for formula-fed premature newborns.