Abstract
Osteopenia, a condition characterised by a reduction in bone mineral content, is a common disease of preterm babies between the tenth and sixteenth week of life. Prematurely born infants are deprived of the intrauterine supply of minerals affecting bone mineralization.
The aetiology is multifactorial: inadequate nutrients intake (calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D), a prolonged period of total parenteral nutrition, immobilisation and the intake of some drugs.
The diagnosis of metabolic bone disease is done by biochemical analysis: low serum levels of phosphorus and high levels of alkaline phosphatase are suggestive of metabolic bone disease. The disease can remain clinically silent or presents with symptoms and signs of rachitism depending on the severity of bone demineralisation.
An early nutritional intervention can reduce both the prevalence and the severity of osteopenia.
This article reviews the pathophysiology of foetal and neonatal bone metabolism, focuses on the nutrient requirements of premature babies and on the ways to early detect and treat osteopenia....
Conclusion
An adequate nutritional intake of calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D and passive physical exercise may prevent abnormal bone-remodelling activity during first weeks of life and may optimize growth potential of preterm infants. It is important to recognize the biochemical signs of osteopenia in an early stage in order to be able to precociously implement the dietary intake and reduce the risk of bones fractures. The determination of alkaline phosphatase and of phosphoraemia seems to be useful in assessing the risk of metabolic bone disease and serum analysis need to be performed periodically in order to assess response to nutritional treatment. Through DEXA and quantitative ultrasound it is also possible to determine the state of bone mineralization and therefore to plan a nutritional intervention.
For full paper please see source:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2729305/
Osteopenia, a condition characterised by a reduction in bone mineral content, is a common disease of preterm babies between the tenth and sixteenth week of life. Prematurely born infants are deprived of the intrauterine supply of minerals affecting bone mineralization.
The aetiology is multifactorial: inadequate nutrients intake (calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D), a prolonged period of total parenteral nutrition, immobilisation and the intake of some drugs.
The diagnosis of metabolic bone disease is done by biochemical analysis: low serum levels of phosphorus and high levels of alkaline phosphatase are suggestive of metabolic bone disease. The disease can remain clinically silent or presents with symptoms and signs of rachitism depending on the severity of bone demineralisation.
An early nutritional intervention can reduce both the prevalence and the severity of osteopenia.
This article reviews the pathophysiology of foetal and neonatal bone metabolism, focuses on the nutrient requirements of premature babies and on the ways to early detect and treat osteopenia....
Conclusion
An adequate nutritional intake of calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D and passive physical exercise may prevent abnormal bone-remodelling activity during first weeks of life and may optimize growth potential of preterm infants. It is important to recognize the biochemical signs of osteopenia in an early stage in order to be able to precociously implement the dietary intake and reduce the risk of bones fractures. The determination of alkaline phosphatase and of phosphoraemia seems to be useful in assessing the risk of metabolic bone disease and serum analysis need to be performed periodically in order to assess response to nutritional treatment. Through DEXA and quantitative ultrasound it is also possible to determine the state of bone mineralization and therefore to plan a nutritional intervention.
For full paper please see source:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2729305/