Macro-mineral content of milk obtained during early lactation from mothers of premature infants.

Milk from mothers giving birth prematurely was analyzed for Na, Cl, K, Mg, Ca and P concentrations. The data presented are from analyses of milk samples representative of complete 24-hour expressions and collected serially over the first 29 days of lactation from mothers giving birth at term (FT) and mothers giving birth prematurely (PT). Mineral composition of FT and PT milks was similar during the first month lactation. With the exceptions of Mg and P, the concentrations of the minerals studied were higher initially than at the end of the fourth week of lactation. From these data, intakes of premature infants fed their own mothers' milk can be estimated and compared to predicted mineral requirements for the premature infant. On the basis of this comparison, we suggest that the quantities provided of Na, Cl, K and Mg, but not Ca and P, would be adequate to meet requirements of premature infants during the early weeks of life.