What is the appropriate intravenous dose of vitamin E for very-low-birth-weight infants?

J Perinatol. 2004 Apr;24(4):205-7. doi: 10.1038/sj.jp.7211078.

Abstract

The Committee on Fetus and Newborn of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has endorsed 1 to 2 mg/dl as the normal range of serum tocopherol level. Our Cochrane review has shown that vitamin E supplementation resulting in levels >3.5 mg/dl, but not < or =3.5 mg/dl, significantly reduces the risk for severe retinopathy among very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants examined but increases the risks of sepsis and of necrotizing enterocolitis among infants treated for >1 week. As a fixed daily intravenous dose of vitamin E results in an inverse relationship between serum level and birth weight and is a risk for both low and high serum tocopherol levels, a dose adjusted for current weight appears more judicious than a fixed dose per day. Based on currently available data the AAP and the American Society for Clinical Nutrition currently recommend a routine intake of 2 ml/kg/day of MVI Pediatric (2.8 IU/kg/day) in VLBW infants (maximum of 5 ml/day or 7 IU/day).

MeSH terms

  • Body Weight
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infant, Very Low Birth Weight*
  • Injections, Intravenous
  • Parenteral Nutrition
  • Risk
  • Vitamin E / administration & dosage*
  • alpha-Tocopherol / blood

Substances

  • Vitamin E
  • alpha-Tocopherol