In infants weighing less than 1000g, what is the limit for calcium gluconate during the first 72 hours of life?

In infants weighing less than 1000 grams, calcium supplementation is critical in the neonatal period to promote bone health and prevent conditions like rickets. The limit for calcium gluconate during the first 72 hours of life is set at 1.0 mmol/100mL. This guideline is based on careful consideration of the infants' immature renal function and metabolic capacity, which can make them more susceptible to hypercalcemia and other complications if given excessive amounts of calcium too early.

The administration of calcium gluconate needs to be carefully controlled, especially in such vulnerable populations, and guidelines are established to ensure safety while still providing adequate supplementation to meet their physiological needs. Choosing a conservative limit helps to minimize the risk of adverse effects, and practitioners typically adjust calcium administration based on the individual clinical picture and ongoing assessment of serum calcium levels.

Thus, the limit of 1.0 mmol/100mL during this critical period helps protect the infant while still aiming to meet necessary nutritional requirements.