Vitamin E status in children with cystic fibrosis and pancreatic insufficiency
Shirley H Huang1, Joan I Schall, Babette S Zemel
1Division of Gastroenterology and Nutrition, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-4399, USA.
Insights
Children with cystic fibrosis show improved vitamin E status compared to peers. Despite lower dietary intake, supplemental vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) leads to better nutrient levels in these children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Gastroenterology
- Nutritional Biochemistry
Background:
- Cystic fibrosis (CF) often impacts nutrient absorption, including fat-soluble vitamins.
- Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) is crucial for antioxidant defense and immune function.
- Assessing vitamin E status in children with CF is important for managing their health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare vitamin E status in children with cystic fibrosis to a healthy control group.
- To evaluate the relationship between dietary and supplemental vitamin E intake and serum levels.
- To determine if children with CF exhibit differences in serum alpha-tocopherol and cholesterol.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study comparing 69 children (7-10 years) with CF to a sample from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III (NHANES III) (6-11.9 years).
- Median vitamin E intakes assessed: 6 mg/day (dietary) and 224 mg/day (supplemental) for the CF group.
- Serum vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) and cholesterol levels were measured and compared.
Main Results:
- Children with CF had significantly higher serum alpha-tocopherol:cholesterol ratios compared to NHANES III participants.
- Higher serum alpha-tocopherol levels were observed in children with CF.
- Lower serum cholesterol levels were found in the cystic fibrosis group.
Conclusions:
- Children with cystic fibrosis, despite potentially lower dietary vitamin E, demonstrate a superior vitamin E status when accounting for cholesterol.
- Supplemental vitamin E intake appears effective in maintaining adequate or enhanced vitamin E levels in children with CF.
- These findings highlight the importance of monitoring and potentially supplementing vitamin E in pediatric CF management.
Abstract:
Vitamin E status was compared in 69 children (7.0-10.0 years) with cystic fibrosis and pancreatic with the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III sample (6.0-11.9 years). With median vitamin E intakes of 6 mg/day (dietary) and 224 mg/day (supplemental), children with cystic fibrosis had higher serum alpha-tocopherol:cholesterol ratios, higher alpha-tocopherol, and lower cholesterol levels than in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
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