No abstract

No abstract

We measured plasma levels of vitamin E (total tocopherol ) and lipoperoxide in seventeen neonates (< t0 days), twenty infants (1-12 months) and ten children (1-5 years) Vitamin E is an antioxidant that diminishes the peroxidation of poly-unsaturated lipids by scavenging free radicals. It is also an important structural component of biological membranes, contributing to their stability. ~,2Several studies have reported that neonates are deficient in plasma vitamin E. L,2 Neonates undergoing surgical operations may be at risk of developing vitamin E deficiency during operation. However, there are no reports about the changes of plasma vitamin E levels in paediatric surgical patients. Therefore this study was designed to compare the plasma levels of vitamin E and lipoperoxide, produced by the peroxidation of poly-unsaturated lipids, preoperatively and postoperatively in paediatric surgical patients. The effect of intramuscular and oral administration of vitamin E was also compared in different age groups. MethodsWe studied seventeen neonates who were less than ten days old, 25 infants ranging in age from one month to one year, and ten children between one and five years. The operations performed were: 14 neonates had abdominal surgery and three under-CAN ANAESTH SOC J 1985 / 32:4 / pp358-63