To cite: Harrison CM,

In the newborn preterm infant a combination of inadequate reserves and increased loss of essential minerals is common and frequently compounded by difficulties in obtaining an intake sufficient to replace losses and restore reserves. Deficiencies in calcium and phosphate and disturbed balance between them are frequently encountered, and may lead to significant impairment of bone deposition. Osteopenia of prematurity – also known as neo-natal rickets, rickets of prematurity or neonatal metabolic bone disease – is a common and import-ant concern in neonatology, and effective manage-ment is hindered by difficulties in accurately assessing calcium and phosphate status and the ‘quality ’ of bone deposition