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Plasma levels of vitamin E and lipoperoxide during paediatric anaesthesia
Insights
Vitamin E supplementation may protect infants from oxidative stress during anesthesia. Studies show vitamin E levels decrease and lipoperoxide levels increase in infants undergoing anesthesia, but supplementation can mitigate these effects.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Anesthesiology
- Nutritional Biochemistry
- Oxidative Stress Research
Background:
- Anesthesia and surgery can induce oxidative stress, potentially affecting nutrient levels in pediatric patients.
- Vitamin E (total tocopherol) is a key antioxidant, and its levels may be altered during surgical procedures.
- Lipoperoxides are markers of lipid peroxidation and oxidative damage.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of anesthesia on plasma vitamin E and lipoperoxide levels in neonates, infants, and children.
- To evaluate the efficacy of alpha-tocopheryl acetate supplementation in modulating these levels during anesthesia.
- To determine age-specific responses to anesthesia concerning oxidative stress markers.
Main Methods:
- Plasma levels of vitamin E and lipoperoxide were measured in neonates (<10 days), infants (1-12 months), and children (1-5 years) undergoing anesthesia.
- Neonates and infants were assigned to groups receiving varying doses and routes of alpha-tocopheryl acetate (oral or intramuscular) or no supplementation.
- Statistical analysis was performed to compare levels between groups and before/after anesthesia.
Main Results:
- In unsupplemented infants, plasma vitamin E decreased and lipoperoxide increased significantly during anesthesia.
- Vitamin E supplementation in neonates and some infant groups led to a significant increase in plasma vitamin E post-surgery.
- In children, plasma vitamin E remained unchanged, while lipoperoxide levels decreased significantly.
- Plasma vitamin E levels decreased post-surgery in infants receiving oral vitamin E, despite high pre-surgery levels.
Conclusions:
- Infants undergoing anesthesia experience a decrease in plasma vitamin E and an increase in lipoperoxide levels.
- Vitamin E supplementation appears to increase plasma vitamin E levels in neonates and infants during anesthesia.
- Oxidative stress responses during anesthesia differ across age groups, with neonates showing stable levels and children exhibiting decreased lipoperoxides.
Abstract:
We measured plasma levels of vitamin E (total tocopherol) and lipoperoxide in seventeen neonates (less than 10 days), twenty infants (1-12 months) and ten children (1-5 years) during anaesthesia. The seventeen neonates were randomly divided into two groups; seven who received 30 mg X kg-1 of alpha-tocopheryl acetate intramuscularly before anaesthesia and ten who did not. The 20 infants were divided into three groups: Group 1: eight infants who did not receive vitamin E; Group 2: six who received 30 mg X kg-1 of alpha-tocopheryl acetate orally for three days before anaesthesia; Group 3: six who received 30 mg X kg-1 of alpha-tocopheryl acetate intramuscularly three hours before anaesthesia. In the neonates who did not receive alpha-tocopheryl acetate, plasma vitamin E and lipoperoxide levels were unchanged following surgery. In Group 1 infants, plasma vitamin E levels decreased (p less than 0.05) and plasma lipoperoxide levels increased (p less than 0.05). In both neonates who received vitamin E and Group 3 infants the mean plasma vitamin E levels increased significantly (p less than 0.05) following surgery. In Group 2 infants, the levels of plasma vitamin E before surgery were high, as compared to the other groups: however, plasma vitamin E levels decreased following surgery. In the children, the plasma vitamin E levels were unchanged, while the plasma lipoperoxide levels decreased significantly (p less than 0.05) during anaesthesia. It is suggested from our studies that plasma vitamin E levels decrease and plasma lipoperoxide levels increase during anaesthesia and surgery in infants; however, those levels are unchanged in neonates.