Abstract 163

Aim Intra-muscular supplementation of vitamin A in large doses has been shown to decrease the incidence of chronic lung disease (CLD) in premature babies. We aimed to investigate whether oral supplementation with vitamin A would reduce the incidence of CLD in a group of extremely low birth weight babies.

Method Babies with birth weight <1000g were randomised at birth to receive oral vitamin A supplementation (5000units daily) or placebo for 28 days. The primary outcome was oxygen dependency at 28 days of age.

Results 147 babies were randomised, 73 received vitamin A (median birth weight (IQR) 806 (697-880) g) and 74 received placebo (median birth weight(IQR) 785 (669-880) g). (Table).

Table 1 No caption available.

Conclusion Oral supplementation with vitamin A in extremely low birth weight babies did not significantly alter the incidence of chronic lung disease.