Table 2.
The variation in dose and duration of daily routine supplements used for preterm infants in regional and non‐regional units
| Regional | Non‐regional | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dose range per day | Start supplements | Stop supplements | Dose range per day | Start supplements | Stop supplements | |
| Folic acid | 0.1–1.0 mg | Full feeds or 10 days | Discharge to 1 year | 0.1–1.0 mg | 2 weeks or full enteral feeds | Weaning to 6 months |
| Phosphate | 1 mmol kg−1 | If PO4 <1.8 mmol l−1 or day 10 | Discharge or alkaline phosphatase <4–600 IU L−1 | 1–3 mmol kg−1 | ‘low phosphate’+/– high Alkaline phosphatase | Alkaline phosphatase <500 IU L−1 to 1 month post term |
| Iron | 3.3–13.75 mg | 14–21 days | Weaning to 1 year | 5.5–13.75 mg | 2–8 weeks | 6 months to 1 year |
| Multivitamins | 0.3–0.6 mL Abidec®/Dalivit® | 7–10 days | Weaning to 5 years | 0.3–0.6 mL Abidec®/Dalivit® | 2 weeks or full feeds | Weaning to 1 year |