[Is it justifiable to administrate vitamin A, E and D for 6 months in the premature infants?]. / Est-il légitime d'administrer des vitamines liposolubles (A, E et D) chez le prématuré pendant 6 mois?

UNLABELLED: Information on the vitamin A and E nutritional status in preterm infants is scarce. POPULATION AND METHODS: In the present prospective and longitudinal study, we measured the plasma concentrations of vitamins A, E, D and of retinol binding protein (RBP) in preterm infants (32-34 weeks of gestation) at birth, and verified whether oral supplementation with these 3 vitamins for 1, 3 and 6 months affected their plasma concentrations. The 17 consecutively recruited premature infants received daily 3000 IU of vitamin A, 5 mg of vitamin E and 1000 IU of vitamin D. RESULTS: At birth, premature infants exhibited a low plasma concentrations of vitamin A (0.66 [0.41-0.96]) micromol/l, vitamin E (8.1 [4.2-16.9] micromol/l), RBP (0.45 [0.22-0.71] micromol/l) and 25 hydroxyvitamine D (25 OHD) (20 [20-40] nmol/l). Plasma vitamin A, E , D and RBP concentrations increased with time, but vitamin A at 1, 3 and 6 months did not attain values considered normal in term infants or adolescents. At 6 months, the plasma 25 OHD was at 92 (71-116) nmol/l, a concentration considered normal and non-toxic. CONCLUSION: We recommend to increase oral administration of vitamin A to 5000 IU/day, at least for the first month of life and, thereafter to administer 3000 IU for 5 months. As for vitamin E and vitamin D, the doses used in this study are sufficient but should be administered for 6 months.

[Fat-soluble vitamins in infants]. / Vitamines liposolubles chez le nourrisson.

Vitamins are micronutrients not synthesised by the human body and should be provided by the nutrition. Liposoluble vitamins include vitamins A, E, D and K. Vitamins A and E are two potent antioxidant nutrients and play a significant role in immune function. Vitamin D plays a major role in intestinal calcium absorption and bone mineralization. Vitamin K intervenes in the synthesis of coagulation factors particularly in the prothrombin synthesis. Vitamin metabolism, placental transfer, vitamin status in newborns and infants are reported. Finally requirements of these vitamins are defined.

Software and scan acquisition technique-related discrepancies in bone mineral assessment using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in neonates.

AIM: In adults, whole-body mineralization assessment by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry can be affected by the densitometer and/or the software used. As there are no published data on neonates, the aim of this study was to evaluate the magnitude of such effects in growing preterm infants. METHODS: We analysed the absorptiometry results obtained from 44 preterm infants scanned at discharge and again 6 wk later using densitometers from the same manufacturer equipped with "Pediatric" (Group A, n = 24) or with "Infant" (Group B, n = 20) packages. Results of bone mineral content assessment were compared using an unpaired t-test and a linear regression analysis. RESULTS: At the time of the first absorptiometry (body weight = 2119 +/- 144 g, n = 44), the bone mineral content was three times lower in Group A (10 +/- 3 g) than in Group B (29 +/- 4 g) (p < 0.001). Subsequently, on the second absorptiometry (body weight = 4037 +/- 236 g, n = 44) such significant differences in bone mineral content (A: 65 +/- 19 g, B: 66 +/- 9 g, p = 0.85) were no longer in evidence. The differences in bone mineral content were related to differences in analysis algorithms between the two programs, which can lead to an overestimation of bone mineral content accretion when two successive measurements are made using the "Pediatric"package. CONCLUSION: Considering that significant differences in bone mineral assessment may depend upon which program is used, data previously collected in low birthweight infants using the "Pediatric" package should be analysed with caution. Data obtained using the "Pediatric" and "Infant" packages are not directly comparable. Careful validation studies of future densitometers and programs are required before their use in clinical paediatric studies.

Human fetal bone development: histomorphometric evaluation of the proximal femoral metaphysis.

Quantitative data on metaphyseal bone histology during early human development are scarce. In the present study the proximal femoral metaphysis of 35 fetuses and newborns (gestational age 16-35 weeks) was analyzed by histomorphometry. Averaged over the entire metaphyseal area, the relative amount of bone and cartilage was higher in the third compared to the second trimester. Osteoid thickness increased with gestational age, whereas indices of bone resorption decreased. The relative amount of cartilage decreased with increasing distance from the growth plate, whereas the relative amount of bone increased. This was due to trabecular thickening, which occurred at an estimated rate of 3 microm/day in areas close to the growth plate. Despite this rapid rate of net bone gain, osteoid indices were relatively low, indicating that mineralization occurred very rapidly after bone deposition. These observations suggest that modeling, not remodeling, is the predominant mechanism responsible for the development of femoral metaphyseal cancellous bone in utero.

Nutritional efficacy of preterm formula with a partially hydrolyzed protein source: a randomized pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Decreased nitrogen levels, calcium intestinal absorption rates, and plasma amino acid imbalances were reported for preterm infants who were fed partially hydrolyzed preterm formulas. In this pilot study, we evaluated a new formula with modified nitrogen and calcium sources. METHODS: During their second week of life, 16 preterm infants were randomly assigned to one of two groups: 9 were fed the new partially hydrolyzed formula and 7 were fed a conventional formula. Nutrient balance was performed at the end of the first month of life. Amino acid concentrations and anthropometric parameters were measured at theoretical term. RESULTS: Birth weight and gestational age (mean +/- SD) were similar in the two groups (28.9 +/- 7.0 weeks and 1183 +/- 242 g vs. 27.7 +/- 1.0 weeks and 1139 +/- 162 g). Median nitrogen absorption rates (85% vs. 89%; P = 0.03) and biological values (59% vs. 69%; P = 0.13) were lower for infants who were fed the new formula than for those fed the conventional formula. After correction for difference in nitrogen intake, there was no significant difference in nitrogen retained between the two groups (P = 0.11). Plasma amino acid concentrations were also similar in the two groups. Median calcium absorption tended to be higher in the new-formula group than in the conventional-formula group (54% vs. 45%, P = 0.19). At theoretical term, infants fed the conventional formula were heavier than infants fed the new formula (3559 +/- 362 g vs. 3193 +/- 384 g, P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Because nitrogen content is 10% higher in hydrolyzed-protein formula than in entire-protein formula, appropriate nitrogen retention, plasma amino acid profile, and mineral use can be achieved with the new partially hydrolyzed formula. Further studies with larger groups are needed to evaluate the effect on growth.

Vitamin D deficiency in Iranian mothers and their neonates: a pilot study.

UNLABELLED: We conducted a pilot study to assess the prevalence of hypovitaminosis D among Iranian women and their newborns. Blood samples were taken from 50 mothers (age 16-40 yr) and their neonates at term delivery in the largest Tehran hospital. The results showed that 80% of the women had 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) concentrations of less than 25 nmol/l. Mean maternal plasma calcium and phosphatase alkaline concentrations were in the normal range. The mean maternal serum immunoreactive parathyroid hormone concentration of women with hypovitaminosis D (i.e., 25-OHD levels <25 nmol/l) was above normal range and significantly different from that of women without hypovitaminosis D. CONCLUSION: The mean cord serum 25-OHD concentration was very low (4.94+/-9.4 nmol/l) and that of infants of mother with hypovitaminosis D were almost undetectable (1.2+/-1.2 nmol/l).

[Intrauterine growth retardation, its consequences in infancy, in the child and long term]. / Retard de croissance intra-utérin, ses conséquences à la naissance, dans l'enfance et à long terme.

The authors report the consequence of intra-uterine growth retardation on infancy and adult disease. During infancy in 7 to 10% of cases a growth retardation less than -2 DS, is observed and subsequently needs growth hormone treatment. In adult X syndrome (hypertension, diabetes of 2 types insulino resistant and cardiovascular disease) is observed 18 times more in subjects where the birth weight was low than 2.4 kg. Finally the authors give some recommendations to follow-up of the infants born with a growth restriction.

The use of low-EPA fish oil for long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation of preterm infants.

Because docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) may be an essential nutrient for the visual and early cognitive development of preterm infants, DHA enrichment of preterm formulas has been recommended. This randomized trial was designed to study the n-6 and n-3 fatty acid status of healthy preterm infants fed a formula enriched with a low eicosapentaenoic-fish oil until 4 mo corrected age compared with that of infants fed a standard formula. A reference group of breast-fed infants was studied concurrently. The fatty acid content of red blood cell (RBC) phospholipid was assessed at enrollment, hospital discharge, expected term, and 3 and 6 mo postterm. The DHA content of RBC phospholipid was higher in infants fed the enriched versus the standard formula at hospital discharge, expected term, and 3 and 6 mo postterm. However, compared with infants fed the standard formula, infants fed the enriched formula had also higher RBC phospholipid eicosapentaenoic content (0.69 +/- 0.15% versus 0.25 +/- 0.12%, p < 0.001), and lower RBC phospholipid arachidonic acid content (15.1 +/- 0.93% versus 18.8 +/- 0.89%; p < 0.001). We conclude that supplementing preterm infants with low-eicosapentaenoic fish oil is effective in improving DHA status, but results in worsening of n-6 fatty acid status. We speculate that preterm infants may require a dietary supply of arachidonic acid as well as DHA if the same fatty acid status as that of breast-fed infants is to be achieved.

Perinatal metabolism of vitamin D.

During pregnancy, maternal serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, the circulating form of vitamin D, correlate with dietary vitamin D intake. Maternal serum concentrations of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, the hormonal circulating and active form of vitamin D, are elevated during pregnancy; 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D is synthesized mainly by the decidual cells of the placenta and allows for increased calcium absorption. The fetus is entirely dependent on the mother for its supply of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, which is believed to cross the placenta. Hypocalcemia and increased parathyroid hormone secretion induce synthesis of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D after birth in both full-term and preterm neonates. Nevertheless, serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D are a rate-limiting factor in the synthesis of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D. In vitamin D-replete infants, circulating 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D concentrations are higher than those observed in older infants. In countries where dairy products are not routinely supplemented with vitamin D, maternal vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy is necessary. However, there is no indication for the use of pharmacologic doses of vitamin D or its metabolites in the perinatal period.

Bone mineral metabolism in the micropremie.

Environmental factors, nutritional supplies, hormonal status, diseases, and treatments appear to affect postnatal skeletal growth and mineralization in VLBW infants. Compared with their term counterparts, ELBW infants are at risk of postnatal growth deficiency and osteopenia at the time of hospital discharge. From recent data, DXA is becoming one of the reference techniques to evaluate mineral status, whole-body composition, and effects of dietary manipulations on weight gain composition and mineral accretion in preterm infants. Weight gain and length increases need to be evaluated carefully during the first weeks of life, in the intensive care unit and out of it, in the step down unit. Nutritional survey is required to improve the nutritional supply and to maximize linear growth. As the critical epoch of growth extends, during the first weeks or months after discharge, follow-up and nutritional support need to be provided during the first years to promote early catch-up growth and mineralization. Further studies need to determine precisely the most optimal feeding regimen during this period but also need to evaluate the long-term implications of such a policy on stature, peak bone mass, and general health at adulthood.

Erythrocyte fatty acid composition in term infants fed human milk or a formula enriched with a low eicosapentanoic acid fish oil for 4 months.

UNLABELLED: When term infants are fed standard formula that does not contain long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA), they still show lower levels of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in red blood cell (RBC) phospholipids by several weeks or months postnatally. This study was designed in order to evaluate a potential alternative for supplementing term infant formulas with DHA by adding a high-DHA/low-eicosapentanoic acid fish oil to levels similar to that in human milk (0.3%). A total of 37 term infants were included in the study at 3 days of life. DHA concentrations remained stable between inclusion and 4 months of life at around 8% of the RBC phospholipids in the LC-PUFA enriched formula-fed group whereas it decreased significantly in the standard formula-fed group. In the human milk-fed group, RBC DHA concentrations at 4 months of age were significantly lower than that at birth and were significantly correlated with the duration of breast feeding (r = 0.85; P = 0.0002). A significant decrease of arachidonic acid between inclusion and 4 months of age was observed in the enriched formula-fed group and reached a mean value at 4 months, which was significantly lower than that observed in the human milk or standard formula-fed groups (P<0.0001). CONCLUSION: Supplementing term formulas with a high-docosahexaenoic acid/low-eicosapentanoic acid fish oil up to 4 months of age is efficient in improving docosahexaenoic acid status, however it increases the risk of impaired n-6 fatty acid status.

Vitamin A and E supplementation in breast-fed newborns.

BACKGROUND: Vitamins A and E are two potent antioxidant nutrients that play a significant role in immune function. In contrast to the numerous studies of vitamin A and E status in children, adolescents, and adults, information on term infants, particularly breast-fed infants, is scarce. The goals of the present investigation were to examine the vitamins A and E nutritional status of term breast-fed infants at birth and to assess retinol and tocopherol plasma levels during a 3-month supplementation trial. METHODS: The study was a prospective, blinded comparison of a supplementation protocol with a placebo in a group of consecutively recruited term newborns. The supplemented group received 3000 IU vitamin A and 5 IU vitamin E orally. The placebo group received a solution of similar viscosity and organoleptic characteristics. Vitamin A and E were separated by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography on a C18 Spectrasyl column and quantified by ultraviolet spectrophotometry. RESULTS: Vitamin A and E levels steadily increased with age in both groups of infants. However, levels at 3 months were higher in the supplemented than in the control group. CONCLUSION: The data show that supplementation with 3000 IU vitamin A and 5 IU vitamin E for 3 months increases circulating vitamin levels in newborn term babies compared with those in nonsupplemented infants.

Methods for measuring body composition in newborns--a comparative analysis.

The complexity of nutritional support in infants now makes it necessary to use body-composition methods for accurate nutritional assessment. For this goal a variety of methods of determining body composition have been introduced in research on human nutrition. The purpose of this paper is to review the background and to describe the precision of established techniques, focusing on the results obtained in newborns and infants. The ideal method for assessing newborns' and infants' body composition should be non-invasive, reproducible, accurate, and also relatively inexpensive. In addition, we summarize in this paper data on body composition obtained in normal and pathological newborns by using dual X-ray absorptiometry, one of the reference techniques.

[Iron supplementation in preterm infants treated with erythropoietin]. / Supplémentation en fer chez les enfants prématurés traités par érythropoïétine.

Anemia in premature infants can be prevented by prophylactic treatment with recombinant human erythroprotein (r-huEPO). r-HuEPO as been used for a long time in patients with end-stage renal failure. The main factor which can limit r-HuEPO efficiency is limited iron bioavailability. Adapted iron supplementation is needed when preterm infants receive r-HuEPO in order to avoid the depletion of iron stores. Oral iron supplementation is simple but indigestibility is frequent. Furthermore, the intestinal absorption and utilization of oral iron is limited. Parenteral iron supplementation is possible in infants who are very pre-term as they are parenterally fed during the first weeks of life. There are various preparations of intravenous iron with different physicochemical properties. Toxicity and side-effects of parenteral iron preparations depend on these properties. Two parenteral iron preparations are available in France: iron-saccharate (Venofer) and iron-dextrin (Maltofer). Iron delivery and possible side-effects of these preparations are different and need to be considered before use in preterm infants.

Cystic adenomatoid malformation of the lung: neonatal management of 21 cases.

Currently, congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation of the lung (CCAM) is often diagnosed antenatally by ultrasound, allowing prompt and appropriate medical and surgical management after birth. The authors report 21 cases of CCAM admitted from 1988 to 1997 to a neonatal intensive care unit and treated by high-frequency oscillation (HFO) and early surgery. Six infants developed respiratory distress, of whom 4 required ventilation by HFO. HFO was also the mode of ventilation used in all cases except 1 during the perioperative period. There was no death from respiratory failure. The authors emphasize the usefulness of antenatal diagnosis, the efficiency of HFO in cases with severe respiratory failure, and well-tolerated early surgery.