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Dosage and formulation issues: oral vitamin E therapy in children
Tone Westergren1, Betty Kalikstad
1RELIS, Regional Medicines Information Center, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway. tone.westergren@rikshospitalet.no
European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology
|October 14, 2009
Summary
Oral vitamin E dosing for children lacks clear recommendations due to limited research. More comparative studies are needed to establish safe and effective vitamin E (tocopherol) dosages for pediatric use.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pharmacology
- Nutritional Science
- Clinical Pharmacy
Background:
- Oral vitamin E (tocopherol) is utilized for various pediatric conditions.
- Current dosing recommendations for vitamin E in children are inconsistent.
- Limited marketing authorization exists for oral vitamin E products in pediatric therapeutic use.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review existing literature on oral vitamin E therapy in neonates and children.
- To identify discrepancies in current vitamin E dosage recommendations.
- To inform local dosage guidelines for oral vitamin E in pediatric populations.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature search of major databases (Medline, EMBASE, Cochrane).
- Inclusion of product monographs, handbooks, and textbooks.
- Focus on published data regarding oral vitamin E therapy in children.
Main Results:
- Alpha-tocopherol, alpha-tocopheryl acetate, and tocofersolan are primary vitamin E compounds used.
- Tocopheryl acetate has the most available data in both neonates and older children.
- Tocofersolan shows enhanced bioavailability in children with malabsorption disorders; limited pharmacokinetic data exists for neonates and infants.
Conclusions:
- Discrepancies in pediatric vitamin E dosing likely stem from a lack of systematic studies.
- Current data is insufficient for evaluating vitamin E dosage recommendations in children.
- Comparative clinical studies are essential for assessing pharmacokinetics, efficacy, and adverse drug reactions of vitamin E in pediatric populations.
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