Effect of intravenous phosphate on the red cell phosphate metabolites of the preterm infant

Abstract The effect of two different amounts of intravenous phosphorus (Pi) supplementation on intracellular phosphorus (RBCPi) and 2,3 diphosphoglycerate (2,3 DPG) was studied in two groups of preterm newborn infants on total parenteral nutrition (TPN) during the first 7–10 days of life. Group A ( n = 10) neonates received 30 mg/kg/day and group B ( n = 15) 60 mg/kg/day inorganic Pi intravenously. Sixteen preterm neonates who were fed with milk formula from day 2 (group C) were used as controls. Blood and spot urine specimens were collected on days 1, 4, 7, 15 and 30 after birth. By the end of the first month of life, group B neonates had levels of plasma Pi (PlPi) higher than group A (5.69 ± 0.8 mg/dl vs 4.71 ± 0.3 mg/dl, p p p p p p