title: Rickets in very low birthweight infants. Influence of supplementation with vitamin D, phosphorus and calcium.
abstract: The influence of extra phosphorus (P) and calcium (Ca) on the incidence of rickets was studied in 40 infants with a birthweight below 1.5 kg. All were fed breastmilk and all received vitamin D 1200 IU/day. Half of the infants were supplemented with P 20 mg/kg/day and Ca 30 mg/kg/day. Rickets, diagnosed with X-ray at 5 to 7 weeks of age, developed in 12 infants, 11 of whom weighed below 1.0 kg. In infants below 1.0 kg rickets was significantly more common in the group not receiving extra P and Ca. After diagnosis all were substituted and radiographic healing occurred in all. Serum Ca concentrations were normal in both groups whereas serum P was significantly lower in non-supplemented patients. Serum alkaline phosphatases (ALP) were normal in all patients at the time of diagnosis demonstrating the risk of using ALP as a diagnostic test for rickets in very low birthweight.
mesh_terms: D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D002118:Calcium / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D012279:Rickets / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D; D010758:Phosphorus; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D002118:Calcium