American Journal of Clinical Nutrition · 1986 · 21 citations · 20 references
MedicineNutritional SciencesPediatricsHuman NutritionInfant HealthPreterm BirthEarly-life NutritionInfant NutritionNeonatal NutritionNutrition In PrematurityPreterm Infant CareVitamin SupplementationInfant Micronutrient StatusInfant Vitamin SupplementationNeonatal Vitamin SupplementationNutritional Requirements In PrematurityPreterm Infant Micronutrient NeedsPreterm Infant SupplementationVitamin Supplements
Consecutive weekly determinations of plasma retinol, alpha-tocopherol, retinol-binding protein, prealbumin, and zinc were performed on a group of 58 infants weighing less than 2000 g at birth in an intensive-care nursery. Data were classified by the feeding regimen of the preceding week: parenteral, premature formula, or own mother's milk. Mean plasma-retinol values were less than 20 mcg/dl, the lower limit of normal for adults, with the highest values in the formula-fed group. Retinol-binding protein and prealbumin values were lowest in the parenterally-fed group. Alpha-tocopherol concentrations were consistently maintained at levels higher than 500 mcg/dl only in infants fed their own mother's milk. Mean zinc concentrations above 70 mcg/dl, the lower limit of normal for adults, occurred only in parenterally fed infants. Doubling the recommended vitamin supplement in formula-fed infants did not produce a significant increase in plasma retinol or tocopherol.
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