Gluconate is a nutrient degraded by gluconokinase to generate 6-phosphogluconate, playing a crucial physiological role (Ramachandran et al., 2006; Riganti et al., 2012); however, during the total parenteral nutrition (TPN) at birth and after the clinical diagnosis of NEC, the intravenous calcium administration was a source of exogenous gluconate in babies with NEC. This evidence concerns the gene IDNK and necrotizing enterocolitis.