Bibliographic information
GuidelineWHO recommendations for care of the preterm or low-birth-weight infant.
Year of Publication2022
Issuing InstitutionWorld Health Organization
Recommendation
Updated
Enteral vitamin A supplementation may be considered for human milk-fed very preterm (< 32 weeks’ gestation) or very low-birth-weight (< 1.5 kg) infants who are not receiving vitamin A from another source
Recommended in favor
Conditional
Certainty of evidence
Low
Notes and Remarks
Remarks
- The recommendation is conditional on shared decision-making with parents; this includes informing parents about the benefits and risks and the need for further research.
- There were no trials in infants born ≥ 32 weeks’ gestation or ≥ 1.5 kg birth weight, so the GDG did not make a recommendation for those infants.
- The GDG noted that there were limited data on the dose, timing of initiation and duration of supplementation. Based on most trials included in the evidence review, the GDG suggests a daily dose of 1000–5000 IU may be initiated when enteral feeds are well established, and may be continued until the infant receives vitamin A from another source.