Abstract
Based on the calcium (Ca) and phosphate (P) requirements of premature infants, human milk (HM) may not provide for optimal bone mineralization. To determine the adequacy of HM in nursing premature infants we studied 11 breast-fed and 9 SimilacR (SIM) fed infants during the first 16 weeks of life. There were no differences between both groups in gestational age (33.7±0.5 (M±SE) for HM vs. 32.2±0.8 wks for SIM) or birth weight (1.98±.14 vs. 1.77±.16 kg). At 4-8 wks and 12-16 wks of age, bone mineral content (BMC) was measured by direct photon absorptiometry of the left wrist and blood drawn for serum total Ca, P, alkaline phosphatase (AP) and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH D) levels. At 4-8 wks, there were no differences between the HM or SIM groups in BMC (X, 65 vs. 58 mg/cm), P (X, 7.3 vs. 8.3 mg/dl), AP (X, 163 vs. 156 IU/L; normal children 47-112 IU/L), 25-OH D (X, 16 vs. 20 ng/m1; adult normal 10-40 ng/m1) or weight (X, 2.60 vs. 2.84 kg). The HM group had a higher serum Ca level than SIM (10.75±.08 vs. 9.99±.21 mg/d1, p<.01). Again, at 12-16 wks, there were no differences in BMC (x, 104 for HM vs. 88 mg/cm for SIM), Ca (X, 10.75 vs. 10.66 mg/d1), AP (x, 134 vs. 144 IU/L) or 25-OH D (X, 16 vs. 20 ng/ml) or weight (X, 4.26 kg for HM vs. 4.83 kg for SIM, p< .20). Our preliminary data suggest that human milk provides sufficient nutrients for bone mineralization in premature infants.
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