Possible antioxidant effect of vitamin A supplementation in premature infants

BACKGROUNDIncreased lipid peroxidation caused by oxygen free radicals is thought to be one of the common pathogenetic mechanisms for the so-called oxygen radical diseases of prematurity. Since in vitro studies have shown that various forms of vitamin A can exert antioxidant effects that are more potent than those of vitamin E (treatment with which has been ineffective in these diseases), the purpose of this prospective, controlled study was to determine whether administration of supplemental vitamin A to premature infants deficient in this vitamin would have an antioxidant effect in vivo. METHODSFourteen infants (1181 ± 35 g; gestational age 29 ± 0.04 weeks) with a serum retinol concentration at 7 ± 2 days of age in the deficient range, lower than 0.7 μmol/l (