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Observational Study
. 2020 Feb 19;12(2):529.
doi: 10.3390/nu12020529.

Nutritional Intake Influences Zinc Levels in Preterm Newborns: An Observational Study

Gianluca Terrin  1 , Giovanni Boscarino  1 , Maria Di Chiara  1 , Silvia Iacobelli  2   3 , Francesca Faccioli  1 , Carla Greco  1 , Elisa Onestà  1 , Giulia Sabatini  1 , Andrea Pietravalle  1 , Salvatore Oliva  1 , Maria Giulia Conti  1 , Fabio Natale  1 , Mario De Curtis  1
Affiliations
Observational Study

Nutritional Intake Influences Zinc Levels in Preterm Newborns: An Observational Study

Gianluca Terrin et al. Nutrients. .

Abstract

(1) Background: Zinc is a key element for protein synthesis in preterm newborns. Early aggressive nutrition, promoting protein synthesis, may increase zinc consumption; (2) Methods: We performed a prospective observational study, to assess the relationship between early macronutrients intake and serum zinc levels, in preterm newborns with Gestational Age (GA) of 24-35 weeks, consecutively observed in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). (3) Results: We enrolled 130 newborns (GA 31.5 ± 2.8). A significant negative correlation between serum zinc level at 28 days of life and energy (r -0.587, p < 0.001) and protein intake (r -0.556, p < 0.001) in the first week of life was observed. Linear regression analysis showed that zinc levels depended on energy (β -0.650; p < 0.001) and protein (β -0.669; p < 0.001) intake given through parenteral nutrition (PN) in the first week of life; (4) Conclusions: zinc status of preterm neonates was influenced by early protein and energy intake. An additional zinc supplementation should be considered when high protein and energy intake are received by preterm newborns in the first week of life.

Keywords: VLBW; energy intake; parenteral nutrition; protein intake; refeeding syndrome.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Level of serum zinc preterm newborns according to energy and proteins intake of the first week of life.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Correlation between serum zinc levels at 28 days of life with energy and protein intake.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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