Objective: To assess the bioavailability of vitamins A and E administered parenterally with either water-soluble or lipid-soluble preparations.
Study design: A water soluble preparation (MVI Pediatric) administered with a glucose-amino acid solution and a lipid soluble preparation (Vitalipid N Infant) infused with a lipid emulsion were subjected to phototherapy light, different flow rates, light protection, different tubing materials and tubing sizes, and concentrations in the effluents were determined.
Results: Recovery of retinol in glucose-amino acid solution was poor under all conditions (16-30% without; 21-42% with light protection tubing) and increased to 61% with polyethylene and to 44% with polyurethane tubings. Polyurethane tubings with reduced volume improved retinol delivery to 56%. Retinylpalmitate (Vitalipid) losses were low, with recovery of 86 and 77% with and without light protection, respectively. Recoveries of alpha-tocopherylacetate in GLUC-AA were 103-107% without and 94-102% with light protection and of alpha-tocopherol in LIPID 89% without and 85% with light protection.
Conclusions: Parenteral vitamin A delivery is improved by the infusion of retinylpalmitate with lipids. Light protecting tubings provide only a marginal benefit with artificial light and none with phototherapy light. Polyethylene and polyvinylchloride tubings adsorb less retinol than polyurethane tubings. Small tubing diameters resulting in higher flow rates enhance retinol delivery.