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Updated: Dec 27, 2025
Author Spotlight: Investigating Physiological Functions of Vitamin A Transporters Using HPLC-Based Vitamin A Profiling
Published on: December 27, 2024
Saliva for Assessing Vitamin A Status in Extremely Preterm Infants: A Diagnostic Study
Abhijeet A Rakshasbhuvankar1,2,3, Michael W Clarke4,5, Karen Simmer6,7
1Neonatal Clinical Care Unit, King Edward Memorial and Perth Children's Hospitals, Perth, Washington, Australia, abhijeet.rakshasbhuvankar@health.wa.gov.au.
Background:
Salivary measurement of hormones and vitamins is gaining prominence as a minimally invasive procedure with the negligible potential for harm. We aimed to assess the utility of saliva for assessing vitamin A status in extremely preterm infants.
Methods:
Paired saliva and blood samples were collected at 4 weeks of age from infants born <28 weeks of gestation using a proprietary polymer swab. Plasma retinol was measured using high-performance liquid chromatography, and salivary retinol was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Results:
Thirty infants were recruited with a median (IQR) gestation and birth weight of 26.2 weeks (24.8-27.2) and 865 g (718-1,002), respectively. An adequate volume of saliva (>50 µL) was obtained in 68%. There was no significant correlation (Spearman's correlation coefficient = 0.16, p = 0.3) between individual plasma and salivary retinol levels. Bland-Altman analysis showed wide limits of agreement (-113 to +119%) between individual plasma and salivary retinol levels.
Conclusion:
Individual vitamin A status cannot be determined reliably from saliva in extremely preterm infants using current collection materials and analysis techniques.
