Clinical adsorption and photodegradation of the fatsoluble vitamins A and E

The adsorption of the fat-soluble vitamins A and E to administration sets and their photodegradation was studied under varying conditions. Infusion bottles with or without photoprotectors (red plastic bags) were studied, as were systems exposed to the blue light, used in the treatment of hyperbilirubinaemia, which has a maximum emission spectrum at 450 nm. An IV bag containing lipids, carbohydrates, amino-acids, minerals and vitamins was also studied. Vitamin levels in all administration sets decreased by approximately 30% during the first 3h, except for those in the IV bag. Vitamins were best preserved in the IV bag, where 85-90% of both vitamins remained after 20h. Vitamin E appeared to suffer from both adsorption and photodegradation but to a lesser extent than vitamin A. Vitamin A displayed a greater tendency for adsorption. In order to avoid loss of vitamins during parenteral administration, we recommend that they should be administered as a bolus or during a limited period of 1 h, and that the system be protected from light.