title: Metabolic bone disease in preterm infants.
abstract: Small preterm infants often develop osteopenia with or without rickets and with or without fractures. Whether these bone abnormalities all form part of the same disease process with a wide spectrum of presentation or whether each abnormality represents a different disease is as yet unclear. Bone mineralization depends largely on adequate supplies of calcium and phosphate. The normal intra-uterine accretion of these minerals is higher than can be achieved by feeding preterm babies postnatally with breastmilk or conventional formulas. Supplementation with calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D is needed to prevent the development of 'neonatal osteopathy'. The main action of vitamin D in the preterm baby is probably to increase the intestinal absorption of calcium and phosphorous, although it may, together with other calciotrophic hormones, have a more specific effect on bone growth.
mesh_terms: D000138:Acidosis / Q000150:complications; D001206:Ascorbic Acid Deficiency; D001851:Bone Diseases, Metabolic / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000097:blood; D002118:Calcium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism; D003300:Copper / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007225:Infant Food; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000097:blood; D010710:Phosphates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000172:deficiency; D011379:Prognosis; D011488:Protein Deficiency / Q000150:complications; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D010710:Phosphates; D014807:Vitamin D; D003300:Copper; D002116:Calcitonin; D002118:Calcium