Preterm infants born before 30 weeks of gestation are reliant on IV-based formulas because their digestive systems too underdeveloped to eat by mouth. A meta-analysis of four studies found protecting these formulas from exposure to light can cut mortality rates for these small infants in half.
The researchers reviewed four existing studies of infants born between 26 and 31 weeks of pregnancy. At this age, babies lack antioxidant defenses capable of fighting off the oxidization that occurs when their formula, which contains the calories and vitamins to support full growth and development, is exposed to light.
ʺThe photo-excited vitamins B2 and 'electron donors' such as vitamin C, amino acids and lipids all interact in the multivitamin solution and generate oxidants," Jean-Claude Lavoie, MD, a researcher at the University of Montreal and author of the study, said in a statement. "This creates an oxidative stress which damages and kills newborn cells. Fortunately, studies show that shielding parenteral nutrition from light significantly decreases such an interaction. The conclusions to be drawn are clear, an easy to implement, fully light-shielded delivery system for parenteral nutrition needs to be developed to reduce mortality rates in premature infants."
In addition to a 50 percent reduction in mortality rates among the babies with light-protected IV solutions, the analysis revealed girls were twice as resistant to oxidative stress as boys.