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Dietary vitamin E and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) in newborn babies with physiological jaundice
Insights
Formula composition impacts newborn vitamin E levels and red blood cell (RBC) resistance to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) hemolysis. Higher vitamin E and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) content in infant formula leads to better outcomes, but doesn't affect physiological jaundice.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Nutrition
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Physiological jaundice is common in term newborns.
- Vitamin E and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are crucial nutrients.
- The impact of varying milk feed composition on neonatal vitamin E status and red blood cell (RBC) integrity is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of different milk feeds (Formula A, Formula B, breast milk) on plasma vitamin E levels in term newborns.
- To assess the influence of these feeds on the susceptibility of red blood cells (RBCs) to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) hemolysis.
- To determine the relationship between milk feed composition, vitamin E status, RBC hemolysis, and physiological jaundice.
Main Methods:
- Study included 69 term infants aged 2-8 days with physiological jaundice.
- Infants were fed either Formula A (low vitamin E, low PUFA), Formula B (high vitamin E, high PUFA), or breast milk.
- Plasma vitamin E levels and RBC susceptibility to H2O2-induced hemolysis were measured and compared across feeding groups.
Main Results:
- Babies fed Formula B showed significantly higher plasma vitamin E levels compared to those on Formula A, evident by day 2-3.
- Breastfed infants initially had lower vitamin E levels than Formula B fed infants, with levels rising later.
- RBCs from infants fed Formula B and breast milk were significantly less susceptible to H2O2 hemolysis than those fed Formula A.
Conclusions:
- The vitamin E and PUFA content of infant milk feeds significantly influences plasma vitamin E levels in term newborns.
- Milk feed composition affects the susceptibility of neonatal RBCs to oxidative stress (H2O2 hemolysis).
- Vitamin E and PUFA content in milk feeds do not appear to significantly impact the occurrence of physiological jaundice.
Abstract:
We studied 69 term babies aged 2-8 days who had physiological jaundice and who were fed formula A (Ostermilk Complete; vitamin E, 0.46 mg per 100 ml; polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), approximately 0.08 g per 100 ml), or formula B (Cow and Gate Premium; vitamin E, 1.0 mg per 100 ml; PUFA, approximately 0.55 g per 100 ml) or breast milk. Babies fed formula B, with the greatest vitamin E and PUFA content, had a significantly higher mean plasma vitamin E level compared with those fed formula A, even as early as the second and third day. Breast fed babies, 2-3 days old, had a lower mean plasma vitamin E level compared with formula B fed babies, thereafter vitamin E levels in breast fed babies rose. The RBCs of babies fed formula B and breast milk were significantly less susceptible to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) haemolysis compared with the RBCs of those fed formula A. Reduced susceptibility to H2O2 haemolysis in formula B fed babies was observed in those as young as 2-3 days. Susceptibility to H2O2 haemolysis did not correlate with haemoglobin concentration, plasma bilirubin nor with the reticulocyte count in babies on different feeds. We conclude that in term newborn babies the vitamin E and PUFA contents of the milk feeds influence plasma vitamin E levels and susceptibility of RBCs to H2O2 haemolysis, but do not have an important bearing on the occurrence of physiological jaundice.