Osteopenia of prematurity: the cause and possible treatment.

By photon absorptiometry, extrauterine bone mineralization in low-birth-weight infants fed a standard commercial formula lags significantly behind intrauterine bone mineralization. In the present study, infants of 28- to 32-week and 33- to 35-week gestational age were studied. The calcium content in a standard formula was increased to provide a daily calcium intake of 220 to 250 mg/kg/day. Phosphate intake was 110 to 125 mg/kg/day. Extrauterine bone mineralization by photon absorptiometry appeared to approximate the intrauterine bone mineralization rate.