Vitamin A supplementation in low birth weight piglets using a vitamin A depleted swine model

Abstract

Current vitamin A supplementation methods for infants in vitamin A deficient populations have no specific dosing regimen regarding birth weight. A proposed intervention is to administer 50,000 IU retinyl palmitate to newborn infants to reduce mortality risk. Low birth weight and normal birth weight piglets were dosed with two different amounts of vitamin A to compare liver vitamin A reserves and overall vitamin A status at 12 and 24 hours after supplementation. Sows (Sus scrofa domesticus) were fed a vitamin A deficient wheat diet throughout gestation and lactation. Sibling‐pair piglets weighing <1 kg and >1.5 kg were given 25,000 IU or 50,000 IU retinyl palmitate at birth, with blood collection occurring at varying time points after dose. Piglets were killed at 12 and 24 hours after the dose for organ and serum collection. Serum, liver, kidneys, spleen, lungs, adrenals, and pooled intestinal content were analyzed for vitamin A using HPLC methods. The results of this study will lend support to research currently being performed in developing countries where liver reserves and tissue distribution of vitamin A of infants are not accessible.Funded by the World Health Organization.