Umbilical cord blood plasma vitamin A levels in low birth weight (LBW) babies.

Background: Role of vitamin A in reducing the mortality in infants more than six months of age is well known. Supplementing newborn infants with vitamin A within 48 hours of birth reduces infant mortality by almost a quarter, with the greatest benefit to those of low birth weight (LBW). Studies that could highlight deficiency states in neonates, particularly LBW babies by objective measurement of vitamin A levels would help in formulating the recommendations to supplement these babies with vitamin A.
Methods: Cord blood plasma vitamin A levels of 154 LBW babies with birth weight in the range of 1505-2455 were analysed for plasma vitamin A (retinol) levels by HPLC method. Samples of 55 babies with normal birth weight were also analysed. LBW babies were divided into two subgroups of preterm LBW and LBW-term small for gestational age (SGA).
Results: Of the 154 babies with LBW, 92 were preterm LBW and 52 were LBW-term SGA. Mean cord blood plasma vitamin A levels were significantly lower in the preterm LBW group (n = 92) compared to levels observed in babies with normal birth weight (n = 55) and LBW-term SGA subgroups (n = 62). There was no significant difference in the mean vitamin A values between the normal birth weight babies and LBW-term SGA group. There was significant positive correlation of cord blood vitamin A levels with birth weight in the entire set of (n = 154) LBW babies (r=0.37, P < 0.0001).
Conclusion: This study revealed significantly lower cord blood vitamin A levels in the preterm LBW babies. The level of vitamin A in LBW babies also correlated with their birth weight. There are enough evidence to support causative association between vitamin A deficiency state and neonatal morbidity. Simple interventions like vitamin A supplementation during a crucial stage of an infant's life may be beneficial in the long run. There is a need to establish norms for vitamin A levels and seriously examine the role of vitamin A supplementation for LBW babies during the immediate postnatal period.