Cord blood concentrations of vitamin A in preterm infants

Plasma vitamin A concentrations were measured in cord blood samples from 56 infants of gestational ages <33 weeks. Outcome was followed prospectively. Mothers' dietary habits and use of multivitamins during pregnancy were eva luated by means of a questionnaire. Vitamin A concentrations less than 1.05 mu mol/l (low) were measured in 22, but levels below 0.7 mu mol/l (deficie nt) only in two cases. The concentrations were not correlated with the infa nts' gestational ages. Infants with low concentrations were significantly m ore often multiplets compared to those with normal levels and the vitamin A concentrations of the multiplets were significantly lower than those of th e singletons. The outcome measures used and the mothers' dietary habits and multivitamin use were similar in cases with low and normal vitamin A conce ntrations. Multiple gestation seems to be correlated with low plasma vitamin A concent rations in preterm infants at birth, and a complete assessment of vitamin A status to detect possible deficiency might be indicated in these cases. (C ) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.