Vitamin E supplementation in exclusively breastfed VLBW infants
Tripathi, S.; Mishra, T.K.; Mathur, N.B.
Indian Pediatrics 48(11): 889-891
2011
ISSN/ISBN: 0974-7559 PMID: 21719935 DOI: 10.1007/s13312-011-0136-4Document Number: 561159
We conducted this study to evaluate the adequacy of breastmilk as a source of vitamin E in exclusively breastfed VLBW infants. Such infants (n=44) were randomly allotted to receive vitamin E supplementation (n = 23); the rest (n = 21) did not receive vitamin E. After 21 days, the vitamin E level in the supplemented group was 0.78 + 0.26 mg/dL as compared to 0.77+ 0.25 mg/dL in the unsupplemented group (P=0.69). The ratio of Vitamin E to lipids was also comparable in the two groups, (P=0.65). We concluded that vitamin E supplementation is not routinely needed in VLBW infants.