Abstract
Premature infants are susceptible to diseases related to deficient dietary calcium intake. Studies in adults suggest carbohydrates can enhance calcium absorption. However, little is known about how carbohydrates affect calcium absorption in premature infants due to a lack of direct in vivo studies. We adapted the triple lumen perfusion method for use in premature infants to compare calcium absorption 36 mmol/L (1.44 g/L) in the absence and presence of either 70 g/L lactose or glucose polymers. 44Ca was added to determine endogenous calcium losses. Fourteen infants were studied(gestational age: 31 ± 0.4 wk; study weight: 1590 ± 105 g; mean± SEM). Calcium absorption from the glucose polymer solution was greater than that from the control and lactose solutions (0.17 ± 0.05μmol·min-1·cm-1 versus 0.04 ± 0.04 and 0.008 ± 0.045 μmol·min-1·cm-1, respectively). Calcium absorption correlated positively with water and carbohydrate absorption. The rate of carbohydrate absorption was greater from the glucose polymers than from the lactose solution (0.40 ± 0.10 mg·min-1·cm-1 versus 0.22 ± 0.06, respectively). Based upon 44Ca absorption, endogenous calcium loss appeared to account for less than 1% of total calcium flux. We conclude that glucose polymers, but not lactose, enhance calcium absorption in the premature infant, a fact that may be useful in formula design.
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Abbreviations
- PEG 4000:
-
polyethylene glycol 4000
- ANOVA:
-
analysis of variance
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Acknowledgements
The authors thank Mary Ann Rauch, Lily Lians, Mary Thotothuchery, and Vijay Nannegari for technical assistance; Van Vo, R.N., and Laura Mosely, R.N., for nursing assistance; Leslie Loddeke for editorial assistance; and Idelle Tapper for secretarial assistance.
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This work is a publication of the USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital, Hou/caston, TX. Funding has been provided from the USDA/ARS under Cooperative Agreement No. 58-6250-1-003. The contents of this publication do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the USDA, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Supported by National Institutes of Health Grant M01RR-00188, General Clinical Research Center.
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Stathos, T., Shulman, R., Schanler, R. et al. Effect of Carbohydrates on Calcium Absorption in Premature Infants. Pediatr Res 39, 666–670 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199604000-00018
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199604000-00018
