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Urinary vitamin A excretion in very low birth weight infants

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Abstract

Vitamin A (VA) deficiency in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants is associated with an increased risk for disorders related to kidney and lung maturation and function. VA losses through increased urinary retinol (ROH) excretion might contribute to this deficiency risk. The mechanism accounting for ROH loss in the urine has not yet been clarified. The aim of this study was to assess the excretion of ROH, retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) and transthyretin (TTR) in urine from VLBW infants in comparison with that in term infants in relation to kidney function. Urine specimens were collected from 15 VLBW infants (birth weight < 1,500 g) as well as from 20 term infants during the first 2 days after birth. ROH in urine was detectable in 14 of the 15 VLBW infants at a median concentration of 234 nmol/g creatinine. In the group of term infants, 17 of the 20 excreted ROH, but at an approximately five-times lower concentration (P < 0.001). Excretion of RBP4 and TTR was also much higher in VLBW infants (both P< 0.001). The urinary ROH excretion in VLBW infants may be related to the impaired tubular handling of its carrier proteins RBP4 and TTR. Thus, ROH excretion might contribute to an increased risk of VA deficiency, especially in VLBW infants.

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Acknowledgment

We are indebted to the medical and nursing staff in the Department of Neonatology, Virchow Hospital, Charité, University Medicine Berlin. We thank A. Hurtienne and E. Pilz for their skillful analytical support. This work was supported by the European Commission (Sixth Framework Program, contract no. LSHM-CT-2006-036534).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Institute of Nutritional Science, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany

    Britta Nagl, Jens Raila & Florian J. Schweigert

  2. Department of Neonatology, Virchow Hospital, Charité, University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany

    Andrea Loui, Ursula Felderhoff-Mueser & Michael Obladen

  3. Institute of Nutritional Science, University of Potsdam, Arthur-Scheunert-Allee 114–116, 14558, Nuthetal, Germany

    Britta Nagl

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  1. Britta Nagl
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  2. Andrea Loui
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Correspondence to Britta Nagl.

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Nagl, B., Loui, A., Raila, J. et al. Urinary vitamin A excretion in very low birth weight infants. Pediatr Nephrol 24, 61–66 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00467-008-0965-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00467-008-0965-0

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