INTRAMUSCULAR VERSUS ENTERAL VITAMIN-A SUPPLEMENTATION IN VERY-LOW-BIRTH-WEIGHT NEONATES

We conducted a randomized trial in very low birth weight neonates (n = 51) to determine whether vitamin A supplementation by enteral adminis tration would increase plasma vitamin A concentrations to the same deg ree as by intramuscular administration. Mean plasma vitamin A concentr ations were significantly higher in the intramuscular-administration g roup than in the enteral-administration group by postnatal day 7; this effect persisted throughout the remainder of the trial. At the dosage used in this trial, vitamin A supplementation by the enteral route is not as effective as that by the intramuscular route in very low birth weight neonates.