Background: Premature infants are at risk of developing metabolic bone disease. We examined the effect of mineral supplementation on bone mineralisation. S-alkaline phospatase (S-AP) and S-phosphate (S-P) in a double blind randomised trial. Subjects: Prospective cohort of 117 premature infants with gestational age (GA)>32 w. Mean (SD) GA was 29 (2)w and BW 1170 (297)g.

Interventions: Randomised groups: 1) human milk (HM) (own mothers or bank) with phosphate 10 mg/kg/d: 2) fortified HM with 17.5 mg phosphate. 25 mg calcium and 0.4 g protein/kg/d: 3) preterm formula (PF) if own mothers milk not available Volume: 200 ml/kg. Intervention from 1 week old until 36 weeks of GA. Bone mineral content (BMC) was measured by DEXA-scan (Hologic QDR 1000 W) at term (mean GA 41 w (1.4)). S-AP and S-P measured weekly (min. 4)

Results: Table No significant difference in BMC between feeding groups (ANOVA F=1.7, p=0.2). BMC/kg was significantly lower in infants fed HM alone compared with mineral supplemented HM groups(p<0.05). S-P was significantly lower in infants fed HM alone (p<0.01).Conclusion: Mineral supplementation of human milk significantly improves BMC/kg whereas preterm formula does not.

Table 1
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