Serum zinc, copper, and selenium concentrations in preterm infants receiving enteral nutrition or parenteral nutrition supplemented with zinc and copper

Fifteen enterally fed preterm infants not receiving additional trace element supplements and 22 preterm infants receiving total or partial parenteral nutrition supplemented with zinc at 350 micrograms/kg/day and copper at 20 micrograms/kg/day were examined 1, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after birth. Mean serum Zn concentrations in the parenteral group remained relatively constant and were significantly higher (P less than 0.01) at day 21 than the …