Clinical uses and abuses of vitamin E in children

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Pediatrics
• Clinical Nutrition

Background:

• Vitamin E deficiency can cause serious health issues, including spinocerebellar symptoms and anemia in premature infants.
• Elevated vitamin E dosages are used to manage deficiency symptoms and prevent infant complications like bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
• Previous studies on vitamin E in infants have yielded conflicting results and raised safety concerns.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the benefits of vitamin E in treating deficiencies and associated symptoms.
• To examine the conflicting results and safety concerns regarding high-dose vitamin E in premature infants.
• To explore vitamin E's potential role as an antioxidant in inhibiting leukocyte superoxide anion generation.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of vitamin E benefits and deficiency treatments.
• Analysis of studies on vitamin E administration in premature infants.
• Discussion of the potential antioxidant mechanisms of vitamin E.

Main Results:

• Vitamin E effectively alleviates symptoms of abetalipoproteinemia, chronic cholestasis, and isolated vitamin E deficiency.
• Conflicting outcomes and unexpected infant deaths have been reported with vitamin E supplementation in premature infants.
• Safety concerns are often linked to polysorbates in intravenous vitamin E preparations, not vitamin E itself.

Conclusions:

• Vitamin E is crucial for treating specific deficiencies and preventing certain spinocerebellar symptoms.
• The use of vitamin E in premature infants requires careful consideration due to inconsistent results and potential risks.
• Further research is needed to clarify vitamin E's antioxidant functions and optimize its therapeutic application.