MEASUREMENT OF BONE-MINERAL DENSITY BY DUAL-ENERGY X-RAY ABSORPTIOMETRY IN PRETERM INFANTS FED HUMAN-MILK OR FORMULA

Bone mineralization of healthy preterm infants fed human milk were com pared with that of similar fed preterm formula. Bone mineralization wa s studied by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry in 43 preterm infants di vided into two groups; 21 preterm infants were fed with maternal breas t milk and 22 preterm infants with a preterm formula containing 70 mg calcium and 35 mg phosphorus per decilitre. Conclusion Preterm infants fed breast milk had lower bone mineral density than the preterm formu la-fed group. Fortifying preterm human milk with calcium and phosphoru s will improve bone mineralization in preterm infants.