• A Howlett and A Ohlsson.
• Paediatrics (Division of Neonatal Paediatrics), Izaak Walton Killam-Grace Health Centre, 5850/5980 University Avenue, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, B3J 3G9. aahowlet@is.dal.ca
• Cochrane Db Syst Rev. 2000 Jan 1 (2): CD000366.

BackgroundInositol is an essential nutrient required by human cells in culture for growth and survival. Inositol promotes maturation of several components of surfactant and may play a critical role in fetal and early neonatal life.ObjectivesTo assess the effectiveness/safety of supplementary inositol in preterm infants with RDS in reducing adverse neonatal outcomes.Search StrategyMedline, Embase, and Reference Update Databases were searched in August 1997 using key words: inositol and infant-newborn and random allocation or controlled trial or randomized trial (RCT). The reference lists of identified RCTs, personal files and Science Citation Index were searched. Unpublished additional information was obtained from the authors of one RCT published in abstract form.Selection CriteriaAll randomized controlled trials of inositol supplementation to preterm infants with a control group that received a placebo or no intervention were included. Outcomes of interest were bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), death, BPD or death, retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), and sepsis.Data Collection And AnalysisData on neonatal outcomes were abstracted independently by the two researchers and any discrepancy was resolved through consensus. Revman was used for analysis of the data.Main ResultsFour reports of three RCTs were identified. One report was a duplicate publication. The outcome of death or bronchopulmonary dysplasia was reported in two trials, and was found to be significantly reduced (RR 0.56, 95% CI 0.42, 0.77; RD -0.215, 95% CI -0.323, -0.107). The outcome of death was reported in two trials and was found to be significantly reduced (RR 0.48, 95% CI 0.28, 0.80; RD -0.131, 95% CI -0.218, -0.043). Retinopathy of prematurity, stage 4 or needing therapy, was reported in two trials, and was found to be significantly reduced (RR 0.09, 95% CI 0.01, 0.67; RD -0.078, 95% CI -0.128, -0.027). Intraventricular hemorrhage, grade III-IV, was significantly decreased (RR 0.55, 95% CI 0.32, 0.95; RD -0.090, 95% CI -0.170, -0.010). Neither sepsis nor necrotizing enterocolitis outcomes were increased. When a secondary analysis was done excluding a study published in abstract form, the results differed only in that there was a significant reduction in retinopathy of prematurity, any stage (RR 0.53, 95% CI 0.29, 0.97; RD -0.082, 95% CI -0.159,-0.005).Reviewer's ConclusionsInositol supplementation results in statistically significant and clinically important reductions in important short-term adverse neonatal outcomes. A multi-center RCT of appropriate size is justified to confirm these findings.

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