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Losses of vitamin A and E in parenteral nutrition suitable for premature infants

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 56, pages 906–912 (2002)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective: To assess the bioavailability of vitamins A and E administered parenterally with either water-soluble or lipid-soluble preparations.

Study design: A water soluble preparation (MVI Pediatric®) administered with a glucose–amino acid solution and a lipid soluble preparation (Vitalipid N Infant®) infused with a lipid emulsion were subjected to phototherapy light, different flow rates, light protection, different tubing materials and tubing sizes, and concentrations in the effluents were determined.

Results: Recovery of retinol in glucose-amino acid solution was poor under all conditions (16–30% without; 21–42% with light protection tubing) and increased to 61% with polyethylene and to 44% with polyurethane tubings. Polyurethane tubings with reduced volume improved retinol delivery to 56%. Retinylpalmitate (Vitalipid) losses were low, with recovery of 86 and 77% with and without light protection, respectively. Recoveries of α-tocopherylacetate in GLUC-AA were 103–107% without and 94–102% with light protection and of α-tocopherol in LIPID 89% without and 85% with light protection.

Conclusions: Parenteral vitamin A delivery is improved by the infusion of retinylpalmitate with lipids. Light protecting tubings provide only a marginal benefit with artificial light and none with phototherapy light. Polyethylene and polyvinylchloride tubings adsorb less retinol than polyurethane tubings. Small tubing diameters resulting in higher flow rates enhance retinol delivery.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by an European Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ESPEN) Pharmacia research fellowship, by Pharmacia-Upjohn, Erlangen, Germany and by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Bonn (Ko 912/5-1). The authors thank Mr Alan Immendorf, Medex Medical, Ratingen, Germany for donating tubing materials. We are indebted to the staff of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Klinikum München-Großhadern and to Dr Hans Demmelmair and Dr M Haas for their invaluable support.

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  1. B Koletzko: Guarantor: B Koletzko.

  2. C Haas and O Genzel-Boroviczény: Contributors: C Haas, O. Genzel-Boroviczény.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Metabolic Disorders and Nutrition, University of Munich, Munich, Germany

    C Haas & B Koletzko

  2. Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Munich, Munich, Germany

    O Genzel-Boroviczény

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  1. C Haas
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  2. O Genzel-Boroviczény
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  3. B Koletzko
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Correspondence to B Koletzko.

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Haas, C., Genzel-Boroviczény, O. & Koletzko, B. Losses of vitamin A and E in parenteral nutrition suitable for premature infants. Eur J Clin Nutr 56, 906–912 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601417

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