title: Nutrient deficiencies in the premature infant.
abstract: Premature infants are a population prone to nutrient deficiencies. Because the early diet of these infants is entirely amenable to intervention, understanding the pathophysiology behind these deficiencies is important for both the neonatologists who care for them acutely and for pediatricians who are responsible for their care through childhood. This article reviews the normal accretion of nutrients in the fetus, discusses specific nutrient deficiencies that are exacerbated in the postnatal period, and identifies key areas for future research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, 250 East Superior Street, Suite 05-2146, Chicago, IL 60611, USA. m-shah@northwestern.edu
authors.forename: Malika D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Shilpa R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Shah
mesh_terms: D001361:Avitaminosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D002118:Calcium / Q000172:deficiency; D002331:Carnitine / Q000172:deficiency; D002657:Child Development; D003300:Copper / Q000172:deficiency; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000172:deficiency; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal; D000090463:Iron Deficiencies; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000172:deficiency; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D012643:Selenium / Q000172:deficiency; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency*; D015032:Zinc / Q000172:deficiency
chemical_list: D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D014131:Trace Elements; D010758:Phosphorus; D003300:Copper; D012643:Selenium; D015032:Zinc; D002331:Carnitine; D002118:Calcium