Effects of calcium and phosphorus supplementation on calcium retention and fat absorption in preterm infants fed pooled human milk.

Fat, phosphorus, and calcium balance studies were performed in normal very low birth weight infants (BW less than or equal to 1,500 g) fed either normal or calcium- and phosphorus-supplemented pooled pasteurized human milk. Calcium and phosphorus supplements were 27 mg/dl and 24.5 mg/dl, respectively, throughout the study. Measured calcium and phosphorus intake in the supplemented group averaged 90 +/- 6 mg/kg/day and 62 mg/kg/day, respectively, compared to 47 +/- 7 mg/kg/day and 24 +/- 6 mg/kg/day in the nonsupplemented group. The percent of fat, calcium, and phosphorus absorption was similar in the two groups: respectively, 71 +/- 23%, 73 +/- 13%, and 93 +/- 2% in the supplemented group compared to 75 +/- 11%, 71 +/- 14%, and 92 +/- 4% in the nonsupplemented group. Calcium and phosphorus retention reached 62 +/- 12 mg/kg/day and 53 +/- 4 mg/kg/day in the supplemented group against 21 +/- 10 mg/kg/day and 21 +/- 5 mg/kg/day in the nonsupplemented group. These data support the notion that calcium, in addition to phosphorus supplementation in pooled human breast milk, improves both calcium and phosphorus retention in preterm infants.