scholarly journals Efficacy of massive oral doses of retinyl palmitate and mango (Mangifera indica L.) consumption to correct an existing vitamin A deficiency in Senegalese children

1992 ◽  
Vol 68 (2) ◽  
pp. 529-540 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cécile Carlier ◽  
Michel Etchepare ◽  
Jean-François Ceccon ◽  
Marie-Sophie Mourey ◽  
Olivier Amédée-Manesme

Administration of large oral doses of retinyl palmitate has become the most widely practised vitamin A deficiency prevention strategy in developing countries. We conducted a follow-up study among 220 Senegalese children aged 2–7 years suffering from moderate undernutrition to determine the efficacy of vitamin A treatment on their vitamin A status assessed by biochemical and cytological (impression cytology with transfer) methods. The first examination (T = 0 m[onth]) was carried out during April 1989, before the mango (Mangifera indica L,) harvest. The second examination (T = 2 m) was carried out 2 months after vitamin A treatment during June 1989 when ripe mangoes become widely available. Conjunctival cells of the eyes of the children with or without ocular inflammation were responsive to vitamin A administration (P < 0.01). There was a significant increase (P < 0.001) in mean serum retinol and β-carotene levels between T = 0 m and T = 2 m. Mean serum retinol-binding protein (RBP) and transthyretin (TTR) levels did not differ significantly (P > 0.05) at T = 0 m and T = 2 m. Despite the intake of vitamin A, 54% of the children who had abnormal cytology at T = 0 m remained abnormal at T = 2 m. This was due to inadequate levels of TTR and RBP, presumably due to the cereal diet eaten by the Senegalese population. Children with abnormal eye cytology had lower serum retinol levels than those with normal eyes at T = 0 m, and β-carotene values did not correlate with eye cytological abnormalities at T = 0 m. Children with normal cytology had higher serum retinol and also β-carotene levels than those with abnormal cytology after massive oral doses of vitamin A and consumption of mangoes at T = 2 m. Retinyl palmitate may, therefore, only lead to partial cytological improvement due to a lack of retinol-carrier proteins but dietary β-carotene may also be involved

2009 ◽  
Vol 102 (3) ◽  
pp. 342-349 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie A. Howe ◽  
Bussie Maziya-Dixon ◽  
Sherry A. Tanumihardjo

Efforts to increase β-carotene in cassava have been successful, but the ability of high-β-carotene cassava to prevent vitamin A deficiency has not been determined. Two studies investigated the bioefficacy of provitamin A in cassava and compared the effects of carotenoid content and variety on vitamin A status in vitamin A-depleted Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus). Gerbils were fed a vitamin A-free diet 4 weeks prior to treatment. In Expt 1, treatments (ten gerbils per group) included 45 % high-β-carotene cassava, β-carotene and vitamin A supplements (intake matched to high-β-carotene cassava group), and oil control. In Expt 2, gerbils were fed cassava feeds with 1·8 or 4·3 nmol provitamin A/g prepared with two varieties. Gerbils were killed after 4 weeks. For Expt 1, liver vitamin A was higher (P < 0·05) in the vitamin A (1·45 (sd 0·23) μmol/liver), lower in the control (0·43 (sd 0·10) μmol/liver), but did not differ from the β-carotene group (0·77 (sd 0·12) μmol/liver) when compared with the high-β-carotene cassava group (0·69 (sd 0·20) μmol/liver). The bioconversion factor was 3·7 μg β-carotene to 1 μg retinol (2 mol:1 mol), despite 48 % cis-β-carotene [(Z)-β-carotene] composition in cassava. In Expt 2, cassava feed with 4·3 nmol provitamin A/g maintained vitamin A status. No effect of cassava variety was observed. Serum retinol concentrations did not differ. β-Carotene was detected in livers of gerbils receiving cassava and supplements, but the cis-to-trans ratio in liver differed from intake. Biofortified cassava adequately maintained vitamin A status and was as efficacious as β-carotene supplementation in the gerbil model.


2008 ◽  
Vol 101 (6) ◽  
pp. 794-797 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pulin C. Sarma ◽  
Bhabesh C. Goswami ◽  
Krishna Gogoi ◽  
Harsha Bhattacharjee ◽  
Arun B. Barua

The objective of the present study was to determine marginal vitamin A deficiency (VAD) by testing the hydrolysis of retinoyl glucuronide (RAG) to retinoic acid (RA) in children. Previous studies in rats showed that hydrolysis occurred when rats were vitamin A deficient. Children (n 61) aged 3–18 years, were divided into two groups, I and II. Blood was collected from the children in Group I (n 19) who were not dosed with RAG. Children in Group II (n 42) were administered all-trans retinoyl glucuronide (RAG) orally, and blood was collected 4 h after the dose. All serum samples were analysed for retinoids and carotenoids. RA was detected in serum only when serum retinol was < 0·85 μmol/l. Thus, hydrolysis of RAG to RA occurred in children with VAD or marginal VAD. Serum retinol was < 0·35 μmol/l in twenty-one children, 0·35–0·7 μmol/l in twenty-three children, 0·7–0·9 μmol/l in eleven children and >1 μmol/l in six children. Mean serum retinol in sixty-one children was 0·522 (sd 0·315) μmol/l. Mean β-carotene (0·016 (sd 0·015) μmol/l) was far below normal compared to the level of lutein (0·176 (sd 0·10) μmol/l) in sixty-one children. A low β-carotene level might be due to a low intake of carotene but high demand for vitamin A. The RAG hydrolysis test may prove to be a useful approach for the determination of marginal VAD with no clinical or subclinical signs of VAD. High prevalence of VAD amongst certain communities in Assam cannot be ruled out.


Nutrients ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 5 (8) ◽  
pp. 3257-3271 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ellie Souganidis ◽  
Arnaud Laillou ◽  
Magali Leyvraz ◽  
Regina Moench-Pfanner

2000 ◽  
Vol 83 (5) ◽  
pp. 513-520 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suzanne M. Filteau ◽  
Juana F. Willumsen ◽  
Keith Sullivan ◽  
Karin Simmank ◽  
Mary Gamble

The ratio plasma retinol-binding protein (RBP) : transthyretin (TTR) has been proposed as a means to improve the assessment of vitamin A status of individuals with concurrent infection or inflammation. We have measured RBP and TTR in stored sera from South African children who had accidentally ingested kerosene. Samples were collected from these children in hospital when suffering acute inflammation and respiratory distress, and from them and neighbourhood control children 3 months later. Vitamin A status was defined by modified relative dose response (MRDR) tests of liver retinol stores at 3 months and by serum retinol concentration both when children were ill and when they were well. Illness was defined as either being in hospital or, at follow-up, as having a raised plasma α1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) level. The RBP : TTR value was significantly decreased by both illness and low liver retinol stores. When the effects on RBP : TTR of illness and vitamin A stores were considered together for the 3-month follow-up samples, only vitamin A status significantly decreased the value. We calculated sensitivity and specificity of the RBP : TTR ratio against established measures of vitamin A status using a cut-off value of 0·3 for RBP : TTR and standard cut-off values for MRDR (0·06) and plasma retinol (0·7 μmol/l). Compared with MRDR, RBP : TTR had sensitivities of 76 % and 43 % and specificities of 22 % and 81 % to detect vitamin A deficiency in hospitalized and well children respectively. Compared with plasma retinol, sensitivities were 88 % and 44 % and specificities were 55 % and 64 % in hospitalized and well children respectively. Only for the case of clinically well children with biochemical evidence of subclinical inflammation did sensitivity (62 % and 100 % against MRDR and plasma retinol respectively) and specificity (100 % and 60 % against MRDR and retinol) approach useful levels for an assessment tool. Overall, although a trend supporting the theory behind the use of the RBP : TTR for assessment of vitamin A status in infection was observed in the current study, the ratio did not provide adequate sensitivity and specificity to be a useful assessment tool.


1994 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Rukmini

Red palm oil (RPO), besides providing calorie density to the diet, is also the richest natural source of β-carotene, a precursor of vitamin A and an antioxidant that destroys singlet oxygen and free radicals. Chemical analysis of the fatty acid composition of RPO indicates that it has 50% saturated, 40% mono-unsaturated, and 10% polyunsaturated fatty acids. RPO contains 550 mg/g of total carotenoids, of which 375 mg/g represent β-carotene. It also contains 1,000 mg/g of tocopherols and tocotrienols. Nutritional values in rats fed 10% RPO in a 10% casein diet were comparable to those fed 10% ground nut oil (GNO) or 10% RBDPO (refined, bleached, deodorized palm oil). Rats fed RPO or RBDPO had significantly lower plasma cholesterol concentrations than those fed GNO. Significant inhibition of micro-somal 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase activity was observed in the RPO and RBDPO groups, indicating reduced synthesis of endogenous cholesterol. Toxicological studies also indicate that RPO is safe for human consumption. Indian school children fed supplementary snacks prepared with RPO for 60 days had significant increases in serum retinol levels as well as an increased liver retinol store, suggesting the ready bioavailability of β-carotene.


2015 ◽  
Vol 18 (14) ◽  
pp. 2511-2522 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandjaja ◽  
Idrus Jus’at ◽  
Abas B Jahari ◽  
Ifrad ◽  
Min Kyaw Htet ◽  
...  

AbstractObjectiveTo assess oil consumption, vitamin A intake and retinol status before and a year after the fortification of unbranded palm oil with retinyl palmitate.DesignPre–post evaluation between two surveys.SettingTwenty-four villages in West Java.SubjectsPoor households were randomly sampled. Serum retinol (adjusted for subclinical infection) was analysed in cross-sectional samples of lactating mothers (baselinen324/endlinen349), their infants aged 6–11 months (n318/n335) and children aged 12–59 months (n469/477), and cohorts of children aged 5–9 years (n186) and women aged 15–29 years (n171), alongside food and oil consumption from dietary recall.ResultsFortified oil improved vitamin A intakes, contributing on average 26 %, 40 %, 38 %, 29 % and 35 % of the daily Recommended Nutrient Intake for children aged 12–23 months, 24–59 months, 5–9 years, lactating and non-lactating women, respectively. Serum retinol was 2–19 % higher at endline than baseline (P<0·001 in infants aged 6–11 months, children aged 5–9 years, lactating and non-lactating women; non-significant in children aged 12–23 months;P=0·057 in children aged 24–59 months). Retinol in breast milk averaged 20·5 μg/dl at baseline and 32·5 μg/dl at endline (P<0·01). Deficiency prevalence (serum retinol <20 μg/dl) was 6·5–18 % across groups at baseline, and 0·6–6 % at endline (P≤0·011). In multivariate regressions adjusting for socio-economic differences, vitamin A intake from fortified oil predicted improved retinol status for children aged 6–59 months (P=0·003) and 5–9 years (P=0·03).ConclusionsAlthough this evaluation without a comparison group cannot prove causality, retinyl contents in oil, Recommended Nutrient Intake contributions and relationships between vitamin intake and serum retinol provide strong plausibility of oil fortification impacting vitamin A status in Indonesian women and children.


2008 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 297-305 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rhona Kezabu Baingana ◽  
Denis Kasozi Matovu ◽  
Dean Garrett

Background Vitamin A deficiency is a public health problem in most developing countries. The technological challenges associated with the measurement of serum retinol have limited the epidemiologic assessment of vitamin A deficiency. The combination of retinol-binding protein (RBP) enzyme immunoassay and dried blood spots offers a rapid, inexpensive, and reliable tool for the population-level assessment of vitamin A deficiency in resource-poor settings. Objective To report on the application of RBP enzyme immunoassay and dried blood spots to assess serum retinol concentrations as an indicator of vitamin A status in the Uganda Demographic and Health Survey 2006. Methods A total of 5,642 capillary blood spot samples were collected by fingerprick onto filter paper cards from women (15–49 years) and children (6–59 months) in a representative probability sample of 9,864 households between May and October 2006. The cards were dried, packed individually with desiccant, and kept at 4°C in a portable refrigerator in the field and at –20°C in the laboratory. Prior to analysis, the RBP enzyme immunoassay was optimized with the use of matched serum and dried blood spots. Results The correlation between RBP values determined by matching serum and dried blood spots was excellent ( r = 0.79, p < .00001). The prevalence of vitamin A deficiency in women (RBP < 1.24 μmol/L) and children (RBP < 0.825 μmol/L) was 19.4% and 20.4%, respectively. Conclusions The combination of RBP enzyme immunoassay and dried blood spots is a simple, reliable, and cost-effective tool for the estimation of vitamin A deficiency in population-level surveys in resource-poor settings.


2017 ◽  
Vol 57 (6) ◽  
pp. 1079 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. J. Parker ◽  
J. P. Goopy ◽  
M. J. Callaghan ◽  
J. J. Vermunt ◽  
R. de Nys

Serum and liver retinol concentrations and blood β-carotene concentrations were studied in 30 Bos indicus heifers rendered deficient of vitamin A over 180 days and then given treatments of access to algae-based lick blocks (n = 10), injectable retinyl palmitate and molasses-based lick blocks (n = 10), or a negative control given access to molasses-based lick blocks only (n = 10). All heifers became deficient in blood and liver vitamin A, as well as blood β-carotene by 180 days. There was no treatment effect on bodyweight (P = 0.347). However, a highly significant effect of time (P = 0.001) was detected where all heifers achieved an average daily gain of 0.74 kg/day throughout the depletion phase of the study but lost 0.150 kg/day during the repletion phase. The concentrations of serum and liver retinol and blood β-carotene were not different between treatment groups (P = 0.362, P = 0.535 and P = 0.839) during the depletion or repletion phases of the study. All heifers continued to be rendered deficient in the concentrations of serum and liver retinol and blood β-carotene throughout the experiment demonstrating a highly significant effect of time (P = 0.001). Injectable retinyl palmitate (818 100 IU retinol) or access to algal lick blocks (4180 IU retinol) did not elevate blood or liver retinol concentrations in heifers rendered deficient of vitamin A. It is speculated that the protein-deficient diet fed to the heifers had an adverse effect on the blood retinol transport proteins.


Nutrients ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 1100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leila Larson ◽  
Junjie Guo ◽  
Anne Williams ◽  
Melissa Young ◽  
Sanober Ismaily ◽  
...  

The accurate estimation of vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is critical to informing programmatic and policy decisions that could have important public health implications. However, serum retinol and retinol binding protein (RBP) concentrations, two biomarkers often used to estimate VAD, are temporarily altered during the acute phase response, potentially overestimating the prevalence of VAD in populations with high levels of inflammation. In 22 nationally-representative surveys, we examined (1) the association between C-reactive protein (CRP) or α1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) and retinol or RBP, and (2) how different adjustment approaches for correcting for inflammation compare with one another. In preschool age children (PSC) and school age children (SAC), the association between inflammation and retinol and RBP was largely statistically significant; using the regression approach, adjustments for inflammation decreased the estimated prevalence of VAD compared to unadjusted VAD (range: −22.1 to −6.0 percentage points). In non-pregnant women of reproductive age (WRA), the association between inflammation and vitamin A biomarkers was inconsistent, precluding adjustments for inflammation. The burden of VAD can be overestimated if inflammation is not accounted for, and the regression approach provides a method for adjusting retinol and RBP for inflammation across the full range of concentrations in PSC and SAC.


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