Vitamin A and E Supplementation in Breast-Fed Newborns

Abstract

Vitamins A and E are two potent antioxidant nutrients that play a significant role in immune function. In contrast to the numerous studies of vitamin A and E status in children, adolescents, and adults, information on term infants, particularly breast-fed infants, is scarce. The goals of the present investigation were to examine the vitamins A and E nutritional status of term breast-fed infants at birth and to assess retinol and tocopherol plasma levels during a 3-month supplementation trial. The study was a prospective, blinded comparison of a supplementation protocol with a placebo in a group of consecutively recruited term newborns. The supplemented group received 3000 IU vitamin A and 5 IU vitamin E orally. The placebo group received a solution of similar viscosity and organoleptic characteristics. Vitamin A and E were separated by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography on a C18 Spectrasyl column and quantified by ultraviolet spectrophotometry. Vitamin A and E levels steadily increased with age in both groups of infants. However, levels at 3 months were higher in the supplemented than in the control group. The data show that supplementation with 3000 IU vitamin A and 5 IU vitamin E for 3 months increases circulating vitamin levels in newborn term babies compared with those in nonsupplemented infants.