Vitamin A activity of buriti (Mauritia vinifera Mart) and its effectiveness in the treatment and prevention of xerophthalmia.
The fruit of buriti, a palm tree that grows wild in some regions of Brazil, contains beta-carotene in its oily fraction in a concentration 10 times higher than that of red-palm oil. The effectiveness of buriti sweet in the treatment and prevention of xerophthalmia was tested in 44 children aged 43-144 mo through daily supplementation with an amount corresponding to 134 micrograms retinol equivalent over 20 d. The results demonstrated that this natural food source of vitamin A can reverse clinical xerophthalmia and restore liver reserves of the vitamin, suggesting its possible utilization in intervention programs to combat vitamin A deficiency in countries where the fruit is available or has the potential for cultivation.
Mariath
J G
JG
Departamento de Nutrição, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Brazil.
Lima
M C
MC
Santos
L M
LM
D001938:Brazil; D002182:Candy; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005638:Fruit / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000032:analysis; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D014985:Xerophthalmia / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D019207:beta Carotene
D010938:Plant Oils; D019207:beta Carotene; D014801:Vitamin A; D002338:Carotenoids