VITAMIN E (VE) KINETICS IN INFANTS <1500 GRAMS: INTRAMUSCULAR (IM) VS. ORAL ADMINISTRATION

Abstract

Early VE use has been advocated to lessen severity of Retinopathy of Prematurity. Prematures are known to have cord blood VE levels lower than adult norms, but the ability of available VE preparations to raise these levels has not been studied. From 7/82 to 7/83, 30 infants <1500g were randomized into three groups. Group 1 (6-1) received a sesame oil preparation of dl-alpha tocopherol acetate (E-Ferol, O'Neal) as follows: a loading dose of 50 mg/kg IM within the first 12 hours of life and a maintenance dose of 20 mg/kg IM on days 2 through 7. Group 2 (6-2) received the same IM loading dose but maintenance doses of oral d-alpha tocopherol (Aquasol E, USV) at 25 mg/kg/dose every six hours by nasogastric tube on days 2 through 7. Osmolality was reduced to 557 mOsm/L by diluting 1:4 with sterile water. Group 3 (6-3) received only the oral drug at the above dose from day 1 through 7. Levels were measured in cord blood and 1, 3 and 7 days after VE was begun. Analysis was by high performance liquid chromatography with levels reported as mg/dl.