Human Milk Calcium and Phosphate Levels of Mothers Delivering Term and Preterm Infants

Abstract

Human milk calcium (Ca) and phosphate (P) content from mothers of 10 term and 15 preterm infants was evaluated during the first month of lactation. Ionized Ca of preterm milk was higher than term milk on day 14, 6.70 +/- 0.26 (mean +/- SEM) vs. 5.47 +/- 0.09 mg/dl, and on day 30, 6.35 +/- 0.14 vs. 5.67 +/- 0.13 mg/dl (t test, p less than 0.05). Total Ca and P levels of term and preterm milk were not different, and decreased during the first month of lactation. Nursing preterm infants had higher serum P than term infants on day 14 and 30. Serum Ca and 25-OH D values were not different between nursing preterm and term infants or between the lactating mothers.