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Vitamin E deficiency in premature infants

1979; Elsevier BV; Volume: 95; Issue: 5 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/s0022-3476(79)80456-4

1097-6833

Philip M. Farrell,

Vitamin C and Antioxidants Research

THE PURPOSE of this report is to present a brief overview of biochemical and nutritional aspects of vitamin E, particularly as related to premature infants. A number of review articles are available which present detailed information on absorption and metabolism of tocopherols, dietary issues, animal studies, and controversies regarding cellular function. '-3 Although the foregoing areas will not be covered in this paper, three points should be mentioned briefly: (1) there is a marked degree 9f species specificity with respect to the effects of vitamin E deficiency; (2) a great diversity of organs and tissues are adversely affected in tocopherol deficiericy states, suggesting that the vitamin plays an important role throughout the body; and (3) despite a multitude of proposals on the cellular role of vitamin E, the consensus remains that this compound functions primarily as a biologic antioxidant.