Retinol and alpha-tocopherol in infant formulas produced in the EEC

The level of compliance in preterm and term infant formulas between levels of vitamin A (retinol), vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol), and the vitamin E/lon g chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) ratio with the label declarati ons and the European Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition (E SPGAN) recommendations was studied in 30 commercially available infant form ulas in Spain, France, Germany and England. The mean values +/- standard de viation were 89.5 +/- 34.5 mu g/100 kcal for analysed vitamin A (VA), 2.01 +/- 1.17 mg/100 kcal for vitamin E (VE) and 2.44 +/- 1.46 mg VE/g PUFA. VE levels were higher (p < 0.05) in preterm infant formulas (3.24 +/- 0.48 mu g/100 kcal) than in term infant formulas (2.13 +/- 0.29 mu g/100 kcal). The se differences were not found in VA levels. When the mean VE levels of form ulas produced by the various firms were compared on the basis of percentage of label declaration, significant differences (p < 0.05) were found. Analy sed VA ranged from 50 to 236% of the label declaration concentration. Mean analysed VE levels ranged from 68 to 256% of declared levels in infant form ulas. While 85% of the formulas showed analysed vitamin E levels above the label declaration, 60% of analysed vitamin A levels were lower. Twenty per cent of infant formulas presented VA levels lower than recommendations. All infant formulas observed ESPGAN recommendations on their labels except one , in which the labelled VE concentration was lower. (C) 1999 Elsevier Scien ce Ltd. All rights reserved.