Effects of vitamin E on neonatal hyperbilirubinemia in preterm newborns

Neonatal jaundice indicates the presence of pigment in the skin and sclera. Vitamin E is an important component of the cellular antioxidant defense system. Here in the present study, we aimed to evaluate and investigate these therapeutic effects.

This is a randomized clinical trial performed on 100 premature neonates. Group 1 received 10 units of Vitamin E daily for 5 days. The other group received placebo. Amount of bilirubin was measured at the time of 0, 24, 48, 72, and 96 h after birth.

Mean bilirubin in Vitamin E group was increasing until the 2nd day and then got a decreasing trend. In the control group, the increasing trend of bilirubin was going on till the 3rd day. Mean bilirubin increased significantly during the follow‑up in both Vitamin E and control groups (χ2 [df] = 20.23 (1), P < 0.001). Although both groups showed an increasing trend in mean bilirubin, on the last day of follow‑up, the average amount of increase was lower in Vitamin E group (5.06 ± 2.25 vs. 6.23 ± 3.98). Also in the 3rd and 4th days, mean bilirubin was lower in Vitamin E group.

This study supports the usage of oral Vitamin E therapies on reducing the bilirubin levels in neonates. We also showed that this reduced trend occurs after day 3 of life, but in the follow‑ups, neonates who were treated with Vitamin E had lower bilirubin levels compared to the placebo group.