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Evidence for the safety of ascorbic acid administration to the premature infant

W T Bass1, N Malati, M C Castle

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, USA.

American Journal of Perinatology
|March 26, 1998
PubMed

Insights

Early ascorbic acid (AA) administration in premature infants prevents a dangerous drop in AA levels post-birth. This study found AA supplementation safe, with no increased risk of hemolysis or other complications.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Medicine
  • Biochemistry
  • Pediatric Nutrition

Background:

  • Premature infants have high fetal blood ascorbic acid (AA) levels that drop rapidly after birth.
  • This postnatal decline may increase risks of oxidant injury, including bronchopulmonary dysplasia and intraventricular hemorrhage.
  • Concerns exist that AA administration could cause hemolysis in premature infants.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the safety and efficacy of early ascorbic acid (AA) administration in high-risk premature infants.
  • To determine if AA prevents the immediate postnatal drop in AA levels.
  • To assess the potential risks of AA, such as hemolysis and other complications.

Main Methods:

  • Fifty-one high-risk premature infants were randomized into two groups: one receiving normal saline, the other receiving 100 mg/kg of ascorbic acid (AA) daily for the first week.
  • A double-blind comparison assessed hemoglobin, hematocrit, erythrocyte morphology, bilirubin, blood transfusions, phototherapy, renal function, infection rates, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and intraventricular hemorrhage.
  • Outcomes were monitored during the first month of life.

Main Results:

  • Ascorbic acid (AA) administration successfully prevented the immediate postnatal drop in AA levels.
  • No evidence of increased hemolysis was observed in the AA group compared to the control group.
  • There were no significant differences in renal function, infection rates, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, or intraventricular hemorrhage between the groups.

Conclusions:

  • Early ascorbic acid (AA) administration appears safe for premature infants.
  • AA supplementation effectively prevents the immediate postnatal decline in AA levels without causing significant adverse effects.
  • Larger clinical studies are warranted to further investigate the antioxidant benefits of AA in premature infants.

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