The influence of light on vitamin A degradation during administration

Vitamins are an essential part of total parenteral nutrition. Vitamin A is known to be very sensitive to light and may be absorbed to plastic containers and administration sets. The rate of loss of Vitamin A was therefore assessed from T.P.N. regimens in 3 litre bags during administration. Results indicated that Vitamin A palmitate was not absorbed to P.V.C. and degradation occurred during exposure to daylight, both in the bag and the administration set. Only 7 per cent of the added Vitamin A was delivered from a bag situated close to a source of daylight. Covering the bag reduced losses, although Vitamin A degradation in the administered set remained considerable. Moving the bag and set away from the source of daylight reduced degradation. Artificial light had no detectable effect on Vitamin A stability. Light-induced degradation can cause clinically significant losses of Vitamin A from T.P.N. infusions.