A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of
Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
for the degree of Master of Medicine. / Disturbed mineral and bone metabolism is frequently found in
very low-birth-weight infants fed breast-milk during the
first three months of life. The study was designed to assess
the prevalence of this disturbed mineral homeostasis in a
very low-birth-weight populatiun at Baragwanath Hospital and
to determine whether the addition of a preterm infant formula
to the feeds reduced the prevalence and increased the rate of
weight gain. Fifty three neonates weighing less than 1200g
born at Baragwanath Hospital were monitored for weight gain,
growth and for biochemical and radiological evidence of
metabolic bone disease. The infants were randomized to
receive either breast-milk only feeds or a combination of
breast-milk and a premature formula in order to assess the
effect of the different feeds on the development of bone
disease. Weight gain and growth were similar in both groups.
Calcium and phosphorus intakes were higher in the mixed
feeding group. However, serum calcium and phosphorus values
were similar in the two groups throughout the study. The
breast-milk group had significantly higher alkaline
phosphatase levels. Radiological rickets was uncommun in
both groups, although periosteal reactions and osteopenia
occurred frequently and with similar prevalence in both
groups. Overt rickets is not a major problem in very-low birth-
weight infants born at Baragwanath Hospital, although
raised serum alkaline phosphatase values occur frequently.
Feeding with breast-milk and a premature infant formula in
equal proportions (as opposed to breast-milk only) does not
appear to have any effect on weight gain and growth in very
low-birth-weight infants, but does partially prevent the
pathological rise in alkaline phosphatase levels. / Andrew Chakane 2019
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:wits/oai:wiredspace.wits.ac.za:10539/26391 |
| Date | January 1991 |
| Creators | Zuckerman, Michele |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | application/pdf |
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