Abstract
Serial serum zinc concentrations were measured in 24 very-low-birth-weight infants (VLBWI) for 25 weeks after birth. A high concentration level of 86.9-92.0μg/dl was maintained for the first 5 weeks, followed by a rapid decrease of 49.5-54.6μg/dl in 11-15 weeks and a slow increase thereafter. No significant difference was shown in the zinc concentration between the infants of birth weight less than 1000g and those of 1000-1500g. Serum zinc concentration in the group with parenteral nutrition (PN) during 6-10 weeks after birth (65.8 ± 14.3μg/dl) was significanty higher (p<0.01) than those without PN (57.3±10.8μg/dl) . Intravenous zinc supplement increased the serum zinc concentration, but it was still insufficient for the zinc requirement for each age group. And although VLBWI were given in dietary formula with supplemental zinc (340-390μg/dl) or breast milk in the present study, the serum zinc level at the 40 post-conceptional week was lower compared to the reported data in the full-term infant. Hair zinc concentration of the 96 samples including 47 samples from VLBWI was measured. No significant correlation in the same infants was noted between the zinc concentrations of serum and that of hair. The evaluation of the hair zinc concentration in the VLBWI should be considered with the state of the infant, especially in cases of poor nutrition such as in VLBWI.
