Effects of Vitamin E on Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia in Preterm Newborns Publisher

Summary: Research suggests Vitamin E treatment can effectively reduce neonatal jaundice bilirubin levels post-day 3. Is this a breakthrough for newborn care? #NeonatalJaundice #VitaminE

Barekatain B ; Sadeghnia A ; Moradi N ; Yazdi M
Source: Advanced Biomedical Research Published:2022

Abstract

Background: Neonatal jaundice indicates the presence of pigment in the skin and sclera. Vitamin E is an important component of the cellular antioxidant defense system. Here in the present study, we aimed to evaluate and investigate these therapeutic effects. Materials and Methods: This is a randomized clinical trial performed on 100 premature neonates. Group 1 received 10 units of Vitamin E daily for 5 days. The other group received placebo. Amount of bilirubin was measured at the time of 0, 24, 48, 72, and 96 h after birth. Results: Mean bilirubin in Vitamin E group was increasing until the 2 nd day and then got a decreasing trend. In the control group, the increasing trend of bilirubin was going on till the 3 rd day. Mean bilirubin increased significantly during the follow-up in both Vitamin E and control groups (χ 2 [df] = 20.23 (1), P < 0.001). Although both groups showed an increasing trend in mean bilirubin, on the last day of follow-up, the average amount of increase was lower in Vitamin E group (5.06 ± 2.25 vs. 6.23 ± 3.98). Also in the 3 rd and 4 th days, mean bilirubin was lower in Vitamin E group. Conclusion: This study supports the usage of oral Vitamin E therapies on reducing the bilirubin levels in neonates. We also showed that this reduced trend occurs after day 3 of life, but in the follow-ups, neonates who were treated with Vitamin E had lower bilirubin levels compared to the placebo group. © 2022 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.