Mineral homeostasis in very low birth weight infants fed either own mother's milk or pooled pasteurized preterm milk

J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 1986 Mar-Apr;5(2):248-53.

Abstract

As part of a randomised controlled study to assess the effect of pasteurization of breast milk on the growth of very-low-birth-weight infants, the longitudinal changes in serum calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, and bone-gla-protein concentrations were investigated. Infants fed untreated own mother's milk grew more rapidly than those fed pasteurized pooled preterm milk and had higher serum alkaline phosphatase and lower phosphorus values. Serum calcium and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) concentrations were similar in the two groups. Despite the provision of 750 IU vitamin D daily from the 2nd week of life, serum 25-OHD values remained low in a number of infants in both groups, suggesting that either malabsorption of vitamin D or hepatic immaturity might be responsible for the persistently low values. Bone-gla-protein rose significantly after birth and was correlated with alkaline phosphatase values, but not with 25-OHD or phosphorus values. The study supports previous work that indicates that the low phosphorus content of breast milk is probably responsible for biochemical evidence of inadequate bone mineralization and that despite vitamin D supplementation, 25-OHD values do not rise adequately. Thirty-six infants were reexamined between 4 and 11 months after birth. The 25-OHD values had risen significantly in all infants except one who had vitamin D deficiency rickets.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Comparative Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alkaline Phosphatase / blood
  • Calcifediol / blood
  • Calcium / blood
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / blood
  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Disinfection
  • Female
  • Homeostasis*
  • Humans
  • Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena*
  • Infant, Low Birth Weight*
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Milk, Human*
  • Minerals / blood*
  • Osteocalcin
  • Phosphorus / blood
  • Prospective Studies
  • Random Allocation

Substances

  • Calcium-Binding Proteins
  • Minerals
  • Osteocalcin
  • Phosphorus
  • Alkaline Phosphatase
  • Calcifediol
  • Calcium