The influence of dietary factors on the vitamin E requirements of the low birthweight infant.

The vitamin E requirements for the low birthweight (LBW) infant varies with other dietary factors such as iron and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). This interaction is caused by the influence of iron on the oxidative breakdown of lipids (lipid peroxidation). Thus the need for fortification of infant formulas with vitamin E increases if the formulas are iron fortified or have a high content of PUFA. A vitamin E/linoleic acid ratio of greater than 1 IU/g is currently recommended. The formulas on sale in Sweden satisfies this recommendation. In breastmilk we found a vitamin E/linoleic acid ratio of greater than 1 IU/g in colostral and transitional milk. In mature breastmilk, however, 9 out of 24 samples showed a ratio less than 1 IU/g. Thus it is possible, that the LBW infant fed mature human milk may need a larger supplement of vitamin E than the formula fed infant.