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Studies on the tocopherol status in blood serum of premature babies and infants
Insights
This study measured vitamin E (tocopherol) levels in preterm infants. Supplementation improved levels, and Intralipid infusions increased specific tocopherol types, with delta-tocopherol having a 24-hour half-life.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Clinical Chemistry
Background:
- Preterm infants are at risk for vitamin E deficiency.
- Tocopherols, a form of vitamin E, play crucial roles in infant health.
- Accurate assessment of tocopherol status is vital for managing preterm infants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine serum tocopherol levels in preterm infants.
- To evaluate the impact of vitamin E supplementation on tocopherol status.
- To investigate the effect of Intralipid on serum tocopherol concentrations.
Main Methods:
- Serum samples from 88 preterm infants (birth to 2 years) were analyzed.
- High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detection was employed.
- Longitudinal studies tracked tocopherol levels in 11 infants receiving vitamin E supplements.
Main Results:
- No correlation was observed between alpha-tocopherol and gestational age or birth weight.
- All supplemented preterm infants achieved average serum tocopherol levels above 0.5 mg/100 ml.
- Intralipid infusion significantly increased gamma- and delta-tocopherol; delta-tocopherol half-life was ~24 hours.
Conclusions:
- Vitamin E supplementation effectively raises serum tocopherol levels in preterm infants.
- Intralipid administration influences serum tocopherol profiles in this population.
- Further research into tocopherol pharmacokinetics in preterm infants is warranted.
Abstract:
The level of naturally occurring tocopherols in blood serum of 88 preterm infants, aged from birth to 2 years, was determined by the high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method using fluorescence detection. In 11 cases, patients were assayed for their tocopherol status in longitudinal studies, receiving known amounts of vitamin E supplements orally and/or parenterally. No correlation was found between serum alpha-tocopherol level and gestational age nor birth weight. All preterm infants receiving the vitamin E preparation showed an average serum tocopherol content of more than 0.5 mg/100 ml. The highest alpha-tocopherol concentration registered during vitamin E therapy was 3.28 mg/100 ml. Infusion of Intralipid, a product derived from fractionated soybean oil, caused a significant increase of gamma- and delta-tocopherol in blood serum. The half-life of delta-tocopherol in serum was calculated to be about 24 hours.