IS VITAMIN SUPPLEMENTATION EFFICIENT TO PREVENT VITAMIN A AND E DEFICIENCIES IN VERY LOW BIRTH WEIGHT TUNISIAN INFANTS?
S Fares1, F Habibi2, N Gallouz2, S Jabnoun2, Ch Mokrani2, M Feki1, N Khrouf2, N Kaabachi1 1 Research Unit 05/UR/08-08 and Laboratory of Biochemistry, Rabta Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia 2 Department of Neonatalogy, Centre of Maternity and Neonatology, Tunis, Tunisia Background: Vitamins A (VA) and E (VE) are essential nutrients for normal development and optimal health. This study was aimed to test the efficiency of vitamin supplementation in very low birth weight (VLBW) Tunisian infants during the perinatal period. Methods: The study included 148 VLBW infants (birth weight <1500 g), admitted to the neonatology service (Tunis, Tunisia). Vitamin A and E levels were determined by HPLC at the day admission, which correspond to day of the birth and the day of the return of the optimal weight, which generally correspond to the day of departure. Moderate and severe vitamin deficiencies were considered for plasma VA<20 µg/dL and <10 µg/dL, and plasma VE<300 µg/dL and <100 µg/dL, respectively. Resu
