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Vitamin A levels at birth of high risk preterm infants
V Chan1, A Greenough, P Cheeseman
1Department of Child Health, King's College Hospital, London, U.K.
Insights
Preterm infants developing chronic lung disease (CLD) had higher, not lower, vitamin A levels at birth. This suggests low vitamin A does not predispose infants to developing CLD.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal research
- Pediatric pulmonology
- Nutritional science
Background:
- Preterm infants are at high risk for chronic lung disease (CLD).
- Vitamin A deficiency has been hypothesized as a risk factor for CLD development.
- Early assessment of vitamin A status is crucial for high-risk neonates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between cord blood vitamin A levels and the development of CLD in preterm infants.
- To determine if lower vitamin A levels are predictive of CLD in mechanically ventilated preterm infants.
Main Methods:
- Vitamin A levels were measured in preterm infants at high risk for CLD.
- Infants were categorized into two groups: those who developed CLD and those who did not, despite requiring mechanical ventilation.
- Gestational age and vitamin A levels were compared between the groups.
Main Results:
- Eleven infants developed CLD (median gestational age 24 weeks); their median vitamin A level was 0.62 umol/l.
- Eleven infants did not develop CLD (median gestational age 30 weeks); their median vitamin A level was 0.36 umol/l.
- Infants who developed CLD had significantly higher vitamin A levels at birth compared to those who did not.
Conclusions:
- Preterm infants who develop CLD are not predisposed by low vitamin A levels at birth.
- Higher vitamin A levels, not lower, were observed in infants who developed CLD.
- This finding challenges the hypothesis that vitamin A deficiency is a primary risk factor for CLD in this population.
Abstract:
Vitamin A levels were measured shortly after birth in preterm infants at high risk of developing chronic lung disease (CLD). Eleven infants, median gestational age 24 weeks, developed CLD. Their results were compared to 11 infants who, although they required mechanical ventilation for at least 48 hours, did not develop CLD. The median gestational age of this latter group was 30 weeks (range 27-35). The median vitamin A level of the infants who developed CLD was 0.62 umol/l (range 0.41-0.95), which was significantly higher than the median level of the infants who did not develop CLD, which was 0.36 umol/l (range 0.13-0.89). We conclude preterm infants who develop CLD are not predisposed to develop that complication by low vitamin A levels at birth.