Selected Macro/Micronutrient Needs of the Routine Preterm Infant

Requirements for optimal nutrition, especially for micronutrients, are not well defined for premature infants. The “reference fetus,” developed by Ziegler et al,1 has served as a model to define nutritional needs and studies designed to determine nutrient requirements. Revision of nutrient requirements and provision of optimal nutrition may lead to improved outcomes in preterm infants. Appropriate provision of nutrients also may help prevent nutritional disorders, such as metabolic bone disease and anemia. In this review, we discuss calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, vitamin D, iron, and copper, and define optimal intakes based on the available published data.