Vitamin E for intraventricular hemorrhage prevention in preterm neonates: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Some research suggests that vitamin E may help prevent intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) in preterm neonates. However, consolidated evidence regarding its effects on brain vascular health in this population is lacking. This study systematically reviews primary research on this topic. This study examines the effectiveness of vitamin E supplementation in preventing IVH in preterm neonates than a placebo, thus addressing gaps in the literature.

The Cochrane, Dimensions, Embase, and PubMed databases were searched for relevant studies based on specific inclusion criteria. Subsequently, the relevant data were extracted, and statistical analysis was conducted using R studio (version 4.3.1) by applying appropriate models to account for heterogeneity and generate a combined estimate. The results were interpreted considering potential biases and limitations.

Five studies involving 554 patients were included. Among them, 274 (49.45%) received vitamin E. The results (relative ratio 0.57; 95% confidence interval 0.35-0.92; p = 0.02; I ² = 56%) demonstrated a reduction in the incidence of IVH in patients who received administration of vitamin E (n = 274) compared with those who received a placebo (n = 280).

These findings highlight the potential therapeutic benefits of vitamin E supplementation in preterm neonates, which show a significant reduction in IVH incidence than placebo. Further research and clinical trials are required to fully explore its protective effects in this population.