The solubility of calcium and phosphorus was studied in neonatal parenteral nutrition solutions containing dicarboxylic amino acids and cysteine. Experimental amino acid solutions containing aspartic acid, glutamic acid, and cysteine in concentrations from 0.5% to 2.0% were studied with dextrose concentrations of 5-20% plus standard electrolyte, vitamin, and trace element additives. Solutions were held at room temperature for 24 hr prior to incubation in a 37 degrees C water bath for 30 min. The pH of each solution was determined. Precipitation was detected by light scattering on a Cobas Bio centrifugal analyzer. An absorbance greater than 0.015 at 600 nm was considered evidence of precipitation. The pH of test solutions ranged between 5.7 and 6.4. Increasing amino acid concentration produced an improvement in calcium/phosphate solubility. Change in dextrose concentration had a lesser effect. Solutions of 10% dextrose with 2% amino acids contained 40 mEq/liter calcium and 17 mmol/liter phosphorus without precipitation. Administered at 150 ml/kg/day, such a solution would provide 120 mg/kg body weight/day calcium and 80 mg/kg/day phosphorus, approximately the daily in utero accretion rates during the last trimester. This is not readily achieved in comparable solutions of previous amino acid formulations.