Balance Studies of Nine Elements during Complete Intravenous Feeding of Small Premature Infants1

Abstract

James, B. E. and MacMahon, R. A. (1976). Aust. paediat. J. , 12, 154–162. Balance studies of 9 elements during complete intravenous feeding of small premature infants. During the course of a study of complete intravenous feeding of premature infants weighing less than 1,050 g, metabolic balance studies were performed on 4 surviving infants for 5 major nutrient elements: sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus; and 4 trace elements: iron, zinc, copper and manganese. These studies determined the amounts retained when these elements were given intravenously. There was a significant correlation between the input and retention of each of these elements except zinc, and the data obtained have been used to derive tentative recommendations for the rate of infusion of these elements into the small premature infant.