Safety aspects of vitamin A administration.
OBJECTIVE
To review longstanding experience in the safe use of vitamin A as therapeutic agent in prematurely born human neonates and more recently with young children infected with the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).


METHODS
The studies reviewed were designed to intervene with vitamin A in the form of retinyl palmitate in human neonates and infants showing low levels of retinol in the blood.


METHODS
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.


RESULTS
Evidence is presented that vitamin A can be administered safely to human neonates and infants without apparent acute toxic effects.


CONCLUSIONS
A carefully designed mode of administration of vitamin A can improve a patient's vitamin A status as determined by the elevation of blood vitamin A levels which in turn may be beneficial in lowering the morbidity.
Chytil
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Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232-0146, USA.
D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000188:drug therapy*
D014801:Vitamin A