Rickets of prematurity: calcium and phosphorus supplementation

Abstract

Seventy-four infants weighing less than 1500 gm at birth were fed enterally from birth until day 47. Group A (18 infants) were given SMA Gold Cap: group B (18 infants), supplementary calcium to 21 mmol/L (84 mg/dl); group C (16 infants), further calcium supplementation to 31.2 mmol/L (125 mg/dl); and group D (22 infants), milk with calcium content 31.2 mmol/L (125 mg/dl) and phosphorus supplementation to 15.7 mmol/L (49 mg/dl). The addition of calcium reduced the radiologic evidence of rickets, and combined calcium and phosphorus supplementation maintained plasma alkaline phosphatase activity within the normal range for 6 weeks.