INTRAUTERINE GROWTH AND THE VITAMIN E STATUS OF FULL-TERM AND PRETERM NEWBORNS.

Alyne Batista Da Silva,Roberto Dimenstein,Mayara Santa Rosa Lima,Jeane Franco Pires Medeiros,Karla Danielly Da Silva Ribeiro,Danielle Soares Bezerra,Eva Débora De Oliveira Andrade,Amanda Michelly Braga Da Mata,Mônica Maria Osório

doi:10.1590/1984-0462/;2019;37;3;00003

Alyne Batista Da Silva, Roberto Dimenstein + Show 7 more

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https://doi.org/10.1590/1984-0462/;2019;37;3;00003

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Abstract

ABSTRACTObjective: To determine the concentration of alpha-tocopherol in umbilical cord serum of full-term and preterm newborns, in order to assess the nutritional status of both groups in relation to the vitamin and its possible correlation with intrauterine growth.Methods: A cross-sectional observational study conducted with 140 newborns, of which 64 were preterm and 76 were full-term. They did not have any malformations, they came from healthy mothers, who were nonsmokers, and delivered a single baby. Intrauterine growth was evaluated by weight-to-gestational age at birth, using Intergrowth-21st. Thealpha-tocopherol levels of umbilical cord serum were analyzed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography.Results: The mean concentration of alpha-tocopherol in umbilical cord serum for preterm and full-term infants was 263.3±129.5 and 247.0±147.6 µg/dL (p=0.494). In the preterm group, 23% were small for gestational age, whereas in the full-term group, this percentage was only 7% (p=0.017). Low levels of vitamin E were found in 95.3% of preterm infants and 92.1% of full-term infants. There was no correlation between alpha-tocopherol levels and weight to gestational age Z score (p=0.951).Conclusions: No association was found between alpha-tocopherol levels and weight to gestational age at birth. Intrauterine growth restriction was more frequent in preterm infants and most infants had low levels of vitamin E at the time of delivery.

Highlights

Newborns are considered an at-risk group for vitamin E deficiency, considering that the transplacental transfer of alpha-tocopherol is limited
Weight and length at birth were different between groups, and intrauterine growth restriction was observed in 23% (n=15) of preterm births and in 7% (n=5) of full-term births (p=0.017) (Table 1)
There was no significant difference in the levels of alpha-tocopherol in the umbilical cord between the preterm and fullterm groups (p=0.493) (Figure 1)

Summary

Introduction

Newborns are considered an at-risk group for vitamin E deficiency, considering that the transplacental transfer of alpha-tocopherol is limited. Low serum levels of alpha-tocopherol are associated with the development of edemas, thrombocytosis, and hemolytic anemia, which can result in spinocerebellar degeneration.[5] They may result in cardiomyopathy as a consequence of probable muscular degeneration.[6] Another possible consequence of this vitamin deficiency is its restriction on the intrauterine growth of fetuses. This hypothesis is based on the fact that vitamin E has the ability to increase the release of prostaglandins I2 and E2,7 which are vasodilators compounds, and could possibly help to improve the blood supply to the fetus. Low levels of alpha-tocopherol could compromise the supply of nutrients to the fetus, interfering in its growth.[8]

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