[Serum levels and urinary excretion of zinc, magnesium, calcium and phosphates during postoperative parenteral feeding].

In 45 patients serum levels and urinary excretion of zinc, magnesium, calcium and phosphate were examined during postoperative parenteral nutrition. The patients received the same parenteral nutrition and were divided in groups according to different types of operations. Serum levels of calcium and magnesium were found to be normal in all groups at highly varying degrees of urinary excretion. Zinc and phosphate serum levels, as well as urinary excretion, show a markedly different behavior.