Zinc requirement of premature infants.

Premature infants require adequate amounts of zinc to foster growth and cognitive development. Zinc given during TPN (450-500 micrograms.kg-1.day-1) is the only way to meet in utero accretion rates before 36 wk postconceptional age because of extensive resecretion into the gut of oral zinc. After that time, infants should be consuming formulas supplemented with 12 mg/L zinc for the whole of infancy.