title: Chromium and zinc concentrations in pediatric patients receiving long-term parenteral nutrition.
abstract: Serum, urine, and parenteral nutrition (PN) chromium and zinc concentrations in pediatric patients receiving long-term PN were studied. Serum, urine, and PN chromium and zinc concentrations were measured at baseline and four to six months later in four infants (less than 1 year old) and seven children (1-12 years old) receiving long-term PN. In the children, serum, urine, and PN solution zinc concentrations were measured monthly after the amino acid product was changed from a standard to a pediatric product with monthly dosages of 0, 20, 30, and 40 mg of cysteine hydrochloride per gram of amino acids. The mean +/- S.D. baseline serum chromium concentration was 4.9+/-1.9 microg/L (normal value, <0.3 microg/L); the urine chromium concentration ranged from 3.4 to 32.2 microg/L. The mean +/- S.D. prescribed chromium dosage was 0.18+/-0.05 microg/kg/day, and the dosage delivered in PN solutions was 0.41+/-0.23 microg/ kg/day. At baseline, the mean +/- S.D. serum zinc concentration was 1383+/-472 microg/L (normal range, 430 to 940 microg/L), and the prescribed and delivered zinc dosages were 177+/-10 and 238+/-145 microg/kg/ day, respectively. With 20, 30, and 40 mg of cysteine per gram of amino acids, the mean +/- S.D. serum zinc concentration was 1728+/-782, 1664+/-349, and 1685+/-268 microg/L, respectively, and the actual zinc dosages delivered were 209+/-10, 270+/-148, and 322+/-194 microg/kg/day, respectively. Serum and urine chromium concentrations were abnormally high in infants and children receiving PN solutions supplemented with normal doses of these trace elements; an escalating dosage of cysteine in the children tended to increase serum and urine zinc concentrations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy Practice, University of Connecticut, Storrs, USA.
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Mouser
authors.forename: E B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Hak
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Helms
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Christensen
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Storm
mesh_terms: D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002857:Chromium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood* / Q000652:urine*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food; D008297:Male; D010288:Parenteral Nutrition; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood* / Q000652:urine*
chemical_list: D002857:Chromium; D015032:Zinc