Vitamin E supplementation and the retinopathy of prematurity.
The effect of high-dosage E treatment (Rx) initiated at the stage of 3-plus active disease (target serum E levels, 5-6 mg/dl) was evaluated by a standardized scoring system of visual morbidity at the one to two year eye exam among infants cared for in the University of Pennsylvania Neonatal Complex (1976-1978). The incidence of legal blindness in both eyes or worse was decreased from 71 to 40% in E Rx (n = 10) as compared to non-E Rx (n = 14) infants, and the number of infants with minimal visual morbidity was increased. Pilot studies (1972-76; target serum E level, 1.5 and 3.0 mg/dl) of the prophylactic effect of E Rx from birth on showed a decrease in mean severity of acute stage disease and a decrease in sequelae at one to two years. A strikingly difference in visual morbidity following resolved low-grade ROP was seen when prestudy infants (1968-72) who were fed early iron supplements and given formulas with low E:PUFA ratios were compared to non-E Rx as well as to E Rx 1972-76 infants. Vitamin E seems to exert a beneficial effect at all stages of ROP, perhaps because of its broadly based regulatory role.
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003126:Colostrum / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007225:Infant Food; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008892:Milk / Q000032:analysis; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000032:analysis; D011247:Pregnancy; D012178:Retinopathy of Prematurity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000032:analysis / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D014810:Vitamin E