Vitamin A levels and feeding practice in neonates with and without chronic lung disease

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Abstract
Infants with chronic lung disease (CLD) have been demonstrated to have low vitamin A levels. The aim of this study was to assess factors which influenced this association. Vitamin A levels of infants born at less than 32 weeks gestational age with and without CLD were determined and related to feeding practice. The infants with CLD had statistically significantly lower vitamin A levels on days 21 to 30 and days 31 to 40. From day 11 onwards, the median Vitamin A levels were less than 60% of the minimum acceptable level for a healthy child or adult. Infants with CLD required significantly longer mechanical ventilation and parenteral nutrition than controls and there was a significant positive correlation between duration of mechanical ventilation and parenteral nutrition (r = 0.83). Infants with CLD received significantly less vitamin A supplementation than the infants without CLD. Our results thus suggest that feeding practice explains the association of CLD and vitamin A deficiency in preterm infants.