[Double blind study of vitamin E compared to placebo in the prevention of anemia in the low birth weight infant during the 7th week of life: therapeutic study].

alpha-tocopherol and placebo were compared by a double-blind trial to study their preventive effect on secondary anemia in a sample of low birth weight (less than or equal 2,500 g) infants. In the 7th week of life, hematological data from each of the two groups of infants (receiving vitamin E or placebo) were compared either by covariance analysis or by the t test of comparison of means. The infants who were given vitamin E have a higher serum level of vitamin E, a lower hemolysis, a higher erythrocyte count and a higher hemoglobin level than infants given the placebo. No significant difference was observed with respect to hematocrit or reticulocyte count. Thus, it appears that vitamin E has an effect on some of the factors in the anemia of infants of low birth weight.