Vitamin C supplementation in very preterm infants: a randomised controlled trial

To determine whether regulating vitamin C (ascorbic acid: AA) intake to achieve higher or lower plasma concentrations was associated with improved clinical outcome.

A double blind, randomised controlled trial.

Neonatal intensive care unit at Christchurch Women's Hospital.

Infants with birth weight <1500 g or gestation <32 weeks, admitted to the unit within 48 hours of birth.

Infants were randomised to one of three protocols with regard to AA supplementation for the first 28 days of life: group LL received low supplementation throughout; group LH received low until day 10 and then high: group HH received high throughout.

Primary outcome measures were oxygen requirement at 28 days and 36 weeks postmenstrual age, total days supplemental oxygen, and retinopathy of prematurity. AA concentrations were measured at study entry (day 2), and days 10, 21, and 28.

A total of 119 infants were enrolled over 24 months (mean gestation 28.4 weeks; birth weight 1161 g). Six infants died, and these had significantly higher AA concentrations before randomisation than surviving infants (116 micromol/l (95% confidence interval 90 to 142) v 51 micromol/l (45 to 58), p<0.0001). There were no significant differences in primary outcomes between the groups. However, the proportion of surviving infants with an oxygen requirement at 36 weeks postmenstrual age in group HH (19%) was half that in group LL (41%) (p=0.06).

In a randomised controlled trial, no significant benefits or harmful effects were associated with treatment allocation to higher or lower AA supplementation throughout the first 28 days of life.