Albumin is the major binding protein in the human neonate. Low production of albumin will lower its transport/binding capacity. This is especially important in preterm infants in whom albumin binds to potentially toxic products, such as bilirubin and antibiotics. To study the metabolism of plasma albumin in preterm infants, we administered a 24 h con-stant infusion of [1-¹³C]leucine to 24 very low birth weight (VLBW) infants (28.4 ± 0.4 wk, 1080 ± 75 g) on the first day of life. The caloric intake consisted of glucose only and therefore, amino acids for albumin synthesis were derived from proteolysis. The frac-tional synthesis rate of plasma albumin was 13.9 ± 1.5 %/d and the absolute synthesis rate was 148 ± 17 mg/kg/d. Synthesis rates were significantly lower (p<0.03) in infants showing intra uterine growth retardation (IUGR). Albumin synthesis increased with in-creasing SD-scores for gestation and weight (p<0.05). The FSR of albumin tended to in-crease with 37% after antenatal corticosteroids that had been administred in order to im-prove postnatal lung function (p=0.09). We conclude that liver synthetic capacity has well developed in VLBW infants and prenatal corticosteroids tended to increase albumin synthesis. Decreased weight gain rates in utero have effects on protein synthesis postnatally.