Calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and vitamin D requirements of the preterm infant

Proper mineral and vitamin D nutrition in preterm infants is essential for adequate bone health because preterm infants are at a risk of prematurely developing osteopenia. This chapter focuses on nutritional aspects of the requirements after a brief description of the perinatal physiology of minerals and vitamin D. The rationale for estimation of nutritional mineral requirements of the preterm infant (based upon estimates of the intrauterine skeletal accretion rate of minerals, and upon estimates of the coefficient of intestinal absorption) is first described. Previous expert recommendations are reviewed and compared to the present recommendations. Finally, vitamin D requirements are thoroughly reviewed based upon what is known of the physiology of vitamin D in preterm infants. A suggestion that each extremely preterm infant should be monitored for adequate vitamin D status is made.