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Calcium absorption in very low birth weight infants with and without bronchopulmonary dysplasia

Penni D Hicks1, Stefanie P Rogers, Keli M Hawthorne

  • 1United States Department of Agriculture/Agricultural Research Service, Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA. pennih@bcm.edu

The Journal of Pediatrics
|February 9, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Very low birth weight (VLBW) infants with early bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) show similar calcium accretion and growth when fed energy-dense formulas. Nutritional strategies support bone health and growth in these vulnerable infants.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal nutrition
  • Pediatric pulmonology
  • Mineral metabolism

Background:

  • Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a common complication in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants.
  • Altered calcium (Ca) metabolism and impaired growth are concerns in VLBW infants with BPD.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the impact of early BPD on calcium metabolism and growth in VLBW infants.
  • To assess if nutritional interventions can optimize outcomes in VLBW infants with BPD.

Main Methods:

  • A dual-tracer, stable isotope method was employed to measure Ca absorption.
  • VLBW infants with early BPD received energy-dense feedings and mild fluid restriction.

Main Results:

  • Fractional Ca absorption, total Ca absorption, and Ca retention were similar between VLBW infants with and without early BPD.
  • No significant differences were observed in weight gain, linear growth, or head circumference growth between the groups.

Conclusions:

  • VLBW infants with early BPD and fluid restriction demonstrate comparable growth and calcium accretion to those without BPD.
  • High caloric density feedings aid in achieving bone and overall growth outcomes in VLBW infants with early BPD, approaching in utero growth rates.
Abstract

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