[Serum vitamin E in well-nourished and malnourished infants]

An Esp Pediatr. 1987 Jul;27(1):17-9.
[Article in Spanish]

Abstract

Vitamin E (tocopherol) concentrations in blood plasma were determined in 48 infants and correlated with their nutritional status. Infants were divided into two groups as following: group I (n : 12) estimated well-nourished, and group II (n : 36) appreciated undernourished. Clinical nutritional status was evaluated according to their weight, height and skinfold thickness of triceps percentiles. Plasma vitamin E levels were analysed by a modification of the spectrophotometric micro-technique of Fabiank et al. (using 0.2 ml of plasma). There was difference in serum tocopherol levels between two groups: 1.21 (0.21) mg/dl: mean (+/- SEM) in group I in front of 1.84 (0.18) mg/dl in group II (0.10 greater than p greater than 0.05). On the other hand, vitamin E concentrations were correlated with the skinfold thickness of triceps percentiles by a logarithm curve: y = 2.25-0.31 1n X (r: 0.35, p less than 0.02). Probably, serum vitamin E levels do not reflect the tissue store status in undernourished infants without malabsorption.

Publication types

  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
  • Infant, Newborn / blood
  • Male
  • Nutrition Disorders / blood*
  • Nutrition Disorders / complications
  • Vitamin E / blood*

Substances

  • Vitamin E