VITAMIN K1 AND VITAMIN K2 STATUS OF FULL TEEM AND PRETERM INFANTS

Abstract

There is little definitive information about vitamin (vit) k1 (phylloquinone) and K2 (menaquinone) in newborns. We measured serum concentrations of K1 and fecal K1 and K2 in 25 full term (FT) infant/maternal pairs and 11 preterm (PT) infants (29-36 wks gestation) during the first week of life. In FT infants, mean maternal K1 (1.69±1.04 ng/ml) was higher (p<0.02) than cord blood (1.10±0.58) without significant correlation (r=0.17). There was a difference in cord K1 between FT (1.10±0.58 ng/ml) and PT (2.95±1.8 ng/ml) infants, (p < 0.001). All infants received vit K at birth. In FT infants at 5 days of life there was no difference in K1 between breast fed (n=13) and formula fed (n=10) infants (21.0±12.4 vs 27.5±9.7 ng/ml). In PT infants (NPO) at 48 hrs post K1 IM injection, mean serum K1 varied greatly (m=113/ range 2.3 to 429 ng/ml) but was positively correlated with weight (r=0.74). In the first week of life, FT formula fed infants compared to breast fed infants had higher fecal K1 (2.35±02.34 vs 0.55±0.88 μg/g dry wt, p < 0.01). Significant levels of K2 (> 200 pg/g dry wt) were detected in 8/9 formula fed infants and 2/9 breast fed infants (p<0.025, Chi square). In NPO PT infants, fecal K1 and K2 were undetectable. We conclude : 1) Maternal K1 is higher but does not correlate with FT infant K1 at birth 2) There is a significant difference in cord blood vit K1 levels between FT and PT infants. 3) There is a marked difference in K1 and K2 in the stools of breast fed, formula fed, and NPO infants during the first week of life.