Safety aspects of vitamin A administration.

OBJECTIVE

To review longstanding experience in the safe use of vitamin A as therapeutic agent in prematurely born human neonates and more recently with young children infected with the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

DESIGN

The studies reviewed were designed to intervene with vitamin A in the form of retinyl palmitate in human neonates and infants showing low levels of retinol in the blood.

SETTING

Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.

RESULTS

Evidence is presented that vitamin A can be administered safely to human neonates and infants without apparent acute toxic effects.

CONCLUSION

A carefully designed mode of administration of vitamin A can improve a patient's vitamin A status as determined by the elevation of blood vitamin A levels which in turn may be beneficial in lowering the morbidity.