[Vitamin E mixture for children--treatment with a blindfold?].

Background: Vitamin E is used in children with different diagnoses and conditions, including premature babies and infants. In Norway, there is no licensed vitamin E formulation designed for children. Consequently, extemporaneous production is carried out in pharmacies. Two formulation recipes are available, one for veterinary use and one intended for premature infants.

Material And Methods: A questionnaire was sent to all Norwegian hospital pharmacies to examine what type of oral vitamin E drops that had been produced or procured after 1 January 2003.

Results: 27 (90%) of 30 hospital pharmacies replied. 18 (66.6%) had produced or procured vitamin E drops. 11 (40.7%) had produced or procured a product similar to Vitamin E 50 mg/ml drops for veterinary use. Nine (33.3 %) had produced or procured a product similar to the product called Vitamin E 50 IE/ml drops for premature infants.

Interpretation: Data on the various vitamin E formulations, concentrations, optimal dosing and toxicity lack consistency. Lack of data may cause sub-optimal treatment, adverse reactions, or overdosing.