Development of vitamin-E-status of premature infants after intravenous application of all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate.

A low vitamin-E-status was found in premature infants with birth weight less than or equal to 1,500 g. In this study the plasma vitamin-E-concentration of premature infants was analysed 2-3 h postpartal. During a total parenteral nutrition including fat emulsions the children received 4.5 mg all-rac-alpha-tocopherol acetate/kg/d (approximately 3 mg rrr alpha-tocopherol equivalents/kg/d) intravenously for 5 days. On the same days control-infants received the same fat emulsions without supplemented vitamin E. Serum alpha-tocopherol-levels were analysed on day 1, 3, 7 and 14 by HPLC. Initially the serum vitamin E level was 0.33 mg alpha-tocopherol/dl. Following the intravenous administration there was a significant increase in serum free alpha-tocopherol level. 7 days after end of supplementation the alpha-tocopherol concentration in serum reached 1,000 mg/dl serum. The highest level analysed after tocopheryl acetate supplementation was 2.45 mg alpha-tocopherol/dl. The choosen dose of 4.5 mg all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate/kg body weight/day and this form of application were suitable to achieve normal serum alpha-tocopherol concentrations in premature infants without any complications.