Copper in Extremely Low-birthweight or Very Preterm Infants

Abstract

The increasing survival of extremely low-birthweight or very preterm infants increases the importance of understanding micronutrient needs. Most fetal accretion of copper occurs in the third trimester, when liver stores are laid down, putting very preterm babies at risk of clinical deficiency. Serum copper and ceruloplasmin concentrations seem to have no relationship to intake, and reference ranges are poor and of little value. Copper deficiency is a well-described condition characterized primarily by anemia, neutropenia, and osteoporosis. There is some guidance and recommendations for copper requirements in parenteral and enteral nutrition with either human or formula milk. There are no case reports of copper deficiency in babies of any gestation fed appropriate milk.