Vitamin E supplementation and periventricular hemorrhage in the newborn

ABSTRACT In a randomized controlled trial preterm babies received 20 mg vitamin E/kg im soon after birth (day 0) and at 24 and 48 h. The mean ±SD plasma vitamin E level on day 0 was identical in supplemented and control groups (9.98 ± 4.88 tmol/L) and rose progressively only in supplemented babies reaching a peak of 69.2 ± 2 1.36 mol/L at 72 h. Supplemented babies had a tower incidence of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) diagnosed by ultrasound (9/102, 8.8%) than the control group (37/108, 34.3%; 95 % CI for difference in incidence, 15-36%). In a subsequent uncontrolled study using the same vitamin E preparation. a single dose of 20 mg/kg was given soon after birth to preterm babies. The peak mean ± SD plasma level was 32.97 ± 13.47 zmol/L at 48 h. The incidence of IVH (16/121, 13.2%) was lower than in historical control from the randomized trial (95 % CI for difference: 10.2-31.8%) in spite ofthe single-dose group having more clinical risk factors for IVH. We con-etude that vitamin E protects against IVH in preterm babies. Am J C/in Nutr 199 1:53:370S-2S. KEY WORDS Vitamin E, -tocopherol acetate, preter