Zinc supplementation in very low birth weight neonates

Active treatment consist in zinc at dosage of 10 mg/d associated to other vitamins. We used commercial zinc preparation available on the market as drops. Treatment was started at 7 d of life until discharge from the hospital. Other vitamins contained in the preparation were (pro dose)folates (120 mcg), vit. B12 (0.6 mcg) and Vit D3 (400 UI), vit. C (60 mg), vit. E (6 mg), vit. A (480 mcg). To reach Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for folates, vit. B12, D3, C, E, A, and B group, all subjects were supplemented daily with folates (56 mcg/Kg), vit B12 (0.3 mcg/Kg), vit. D3 (10 UI/Kg), vit. C (25 mg/Kg), E (2.8 mg/Kg), A (500 mcg/Kg), and B group (B1 0.35 mg/Kg, B2 0.15 mg/Kg, B6 0.18 mg/Kg, niacin 6.8 mg/Kg, and biotin 6 mcg) intravenously when in parenteral nutrition. When full enteral feeding was achieved the RDA for folates, vit B12, vit. D3, vit. C, E, A, and B group were reached in all subjects considering that preterm formula used during the study contained folates (30 mcg), vit B12 (0.2 mcg), vit. D3 (10 UI), vit. C (20 mg/Kg), E (2.4 mg), A (180 mcg), and B group (B1 0.19 mg/Kg, B2 0.30 mg/Kg, B6 0.135 mg/Kg, niacin 1.1 mg/Kg, and biotin 5.5 mcg) per 100 ml, and that all subject were supplemented daily with vit D3 (400 UI) per os. In this way, RDA for zinc was obtained only in the active treatment group.