Vitamin A status of preterm infants during infancy

Article Abstract:

Vitamin A, also called retinol, is required for normal growth and development of body tissues. It plays an important role in vision, and vitamin A deficiency is a common cause of blindness. Several studies have reported that preterm babies (babies who are delivered early) are more likely to weigh less and have lower levels vitamin A in their blood than babies who are carried to term. Even when vitamin supplements are given, the amount of vitamin A in the blood of preterm infants remains low. At the same time, the amount of vitamin A in the liver becomes very low and is similar to that observed in patients with vitamin A deficiency. Many preterm infants still have very low levels of vitamin A when they are discharged from the hospital. This article describes the results of a study designed to monitor blood levels of vitamin A in preterm infants during hospitalization and after discharge from the hospital. The study included 67 preterm infants who were delivered after approximately 33 weeks of pregnancy and weighed three pounds or less at birth. Blood levels of vitamin A decreased within the first few weeks after birth and about half of the infants had levels of vitamin A low enough to be diagnosed as vitamin A deficiency. Blood levels of vitamin A remained low 38 weeks after discharge from the hospital, even thought the infants were fed a standard baby formula. Vitamin A levels remained low in many of the infants throughout the first year of life. These infants did not reach their ideal body weight or height during their first year, and they had a high incidence of infections and hospitalizations. It is concluded that vitamin A levels are low in preterm infants and that they remain low for some time after discharge from the hospital. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Dosage and administration, Vitamin A

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Vitamin E supplementation and periventricular hemorrhage in the newborn

Article Abstract:

Forty percent of preterm babies born before 33 weeks gestation have periventricular hemorrhage (bleeding around the ventricles of the brain). The hemorrhage may spread into the cavity of the ventricles (known as intraventricular hemorrhage, or IVH) and can cause circulatory collapse and death. The effect of vitamin E injections on incidence of IVH was evaluated in 210 preterm babies. Vitamin E (20 milligrams per kilogram body weight given at birth, and at 24 and 48 hours of age) was given to 102 preterm babies; 108 preterm babies not receiving vitamin E were used as a control group. Plasma levels of vitamin E were the same in both groups at birth, and increased over time only in the babies receiving the vitamin injections. IVH was diagnosed by ultrasound in 8.8 percent of the vitamin E-supplemented group and in 34.3 percent of the control group. Therefore it is concluded that vitamin E protects against IVH in preterm babies. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Health aspects, Vitamin E, Brain, Brain hemorrhage, Cerebral ventricles

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