Abstract:Osteopenia is a metabolic bone disease. That frequently presents in premature infants .It is usually sub clinical and diagnosed only after development of severe complications such as fractures or rickets .

In our study forty three preterm infants with birth weight less than 2000 gr. were followed form birth to six weeks after birth .

Twenty babies (control group )received breast milk and twenty three (case group )babies received breast milk and supplemented with calcium and phosphorus .All received a daily supplement of 400 I U vitamin D .

Serum ,calcium ,phosphors and alkaline phosphatase levels were measured every two weeks until six-week postnatal age ,at the end of this time wrist Xray for evaluating osteopenia was done .

In our study infants that were fed with breast milk without supplementation of calcium and phosphorous had poor linear and weight growth ,and developed osteopenia greater that other group .

In both groups, infants with complicated course developed osteopenia greater than infants without complicated course.