Abstract
Topical vitamin E oil has become a popular, though unproven, treatment for sore nipples occuring in the early days of breast feeding. We examined the effect of maternal topical vitamin E oil on serum vitamin E levels in twenty healthy, term, breastfed infants on the first and sixth day of life. Ten mothers (group A) applied the contents of a capsule of 400 I.U. of d,l alpha tocopheryl acetate to nipples and areolae after each nursing. The other ten mothers (group B) used either lanolin or no topical treatment. No effort was made to remove Vitamin E before feeding and babies nursed at least six times per day.
Vitamin E levels in umbilical cord serum were similar in the two groups, 0.40 ± 0.14 (A) and 0.34 ± 0.12 mg/dl (B). In contrast, on day 6, the group A infants had significantly higher serum vitamin E levels (1.75 ± 0.57 (A) vs. 1.22 ± 0.37 mg/dl (B) p<.025). No clinical effects attributable to vitamin E were noted during this period.
We conclude that topical application of vitamin E oil by breast-feeding mothers results in higher levels of vitamin E in the nursing infant's serum. In view of reported adverse effects associated with elevated serum vitamin E levels in premature infants and term newborn animals and in view of the unproven efficacy of topical vitamin E for nipple soreness, we would discourage routine use of topical vitamin E by nursing mothers.
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Marx, C., Izquierdo, A., Driscoll, J. et al. VITAMIN E CONCENTRATION IN NEWBORN'S SERUM AFTER TOPICAL USE OF VITAMIN E BY NURSING MOTHERS. Pediatr Res 18 (Suppl 4), 320 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198404001-01364
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198404001-01364