Study Of Ascorbic acid supplementation In reducing morbidities in preterm neonates A Randomized open label Interventional Study

The wide-ranging health benefits and effects of Ascorbic are well established in adults, along with the tolerable upper intake level (2g/day). However, Vitamin C dosage for preterms with very low birth weight infants as available in the extant literature ranges anywhere between 10-55 mg/kg/day as prescribed by American and European health institutes. There exists limited knowledge on the optimal intake levels along with the role of vitamin C in preterms in reducing associated morbidities like NEC, hyperbilirubinemia, and ROP. Most of the existing literature is also confined to developed countries, where maternal smoking plays a significant role in the plasma ascorbic acid levels of preterm infants, and the findings from such studies may not fully apply to developing countries, such as India necessitating the current study.