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Vitamin A status of low and normal birth weight infants at birth and in early infancy

Ramesh Agarwal1, Deenanath Virmani, Munnalal Jaipal

  • 1All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi,*Swami Dayanand Hospital, #Kasturba Hospital and $Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, India. Correspondence to: Dr Ramesh Agarwal, Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi 110 029, India.

Indian Pediatrics
|June 27, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Low birth weight (LBW) infants show higher rates of vitamin A deficiency (VAD) at birth and 3 months compared to normal birth weight (NBW) infants. Serum retinol levels indicate persistent VAD risk in LBW infants.

Area of Science:

  • Nutritional Biochemistry
  • Pediatric Health
  • Neonatology

Background:

  • Vitamin A is crucial for infant growth and development.
  • Low birth weight (LBW) infants may have altered nutrient stores and absorption.
  • Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is a global health concern, particularly in vulnerable infant populations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare serum retinol levels and VAD prevalence in LBW versus normal birth weight (NBW) infants.
  • To assess changes in vitamin A status from birth to 3 months of age in these infant groups.
  • To identify potential risks for VAD in LBW infants.

Main Methods:

  • Serum retinol levels were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography.
  • Infants were categorized into LBW (<2500 g) and NBW (≥2500 g) groups.
  • Measurements were taken at birth and at 3 months of follow-up.

Main Results:

  • At birth, LBW infants had similar serum retinol levels but a significantly higher VAD prevalence (41.1%) compared to NBW infants (24.1%).
  • At 3 months, LBW infants still showed higher VAD prevalence (18.1%) than NBW infants (3.9%), despite increasing retinol levels in both groups.
  • Serum retinol levels increased from birth to 3 months in both LBW and NBW infants, but the difference in VAD prevalence persisted.

Conclusions:

  • LBW infants are at a significantly higher risk for vitamin A deficiency at birth and during early infancy.
  • Monitoring and potential supplementation of vitamin A may be warranted for LBW infants.
  • Further research into the causes and long-term implications of VAD in LBW infants is recommended.

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