ELECTROLYTE BALANCE STUDIES ON PREMATURE INFANTS ON A DIET OF EVAPORATED MILK

Abstract

IN A RECENT paper, Darrow and his co-workers¹ have discussed the production of acidosis in premature infants by the feeding of an unmodified protein milk powder. In this report the authors demonstrated that the excess of chloride over sodium in the protein milk is eliminated with difficulty and that its excretion is attended with a loss of sodium from the body. Concentrations of serum chloride were found elevated, concentrations of serum sodium and bicarbonate lowered and the pH depressed. The confirmation and extension of this work of Darrow were planned by us as part of an investigation of the water and electrolyte metabolism in premature and full term infants. As a base line for the investigation of powdered protein milk, preliminary studies were carried out on premature infants on a diet of diluted evaporated cow's milk. These studies included determinations of electrolyte balances, acid-base partitions in the urine and