High dose vitamin A supplementation of breast-feeding Indonesian mothers: effects on the vitamin A status of mother and infant.
For regions where vitamin A deficiency is common, high dose vitamin A supplementation of lactating mothers is currently recommended, but the effects of this intervention have not been carefully evaluated. We conducted a randomized, double-blind trial in which 153 Indonesian mothers 1-3 wk postpartum received either a capsule containing 312 mumol of vitamin A as retinyl palmitate or a placebo. Mothers' serum retinol concentrations in the vitamin A group tended to be lower than in the placebo group at baseline but higher at 3 mo postpartum (1.39 vs. 1.24 mumol/L, P = 0.03) and 6 mo postpartum (1.23 vs. 1.08 mumol/L, P < 0.01). The milk retinol concentrations of the vitamin A group were higher than those of the placebo group by 0.48 to 1.18 mumol/L at 1-8 mo postpartum (P < 0.05). Among the infants at 6 mo of age, the prevalences of low serum retinol concentration (< 0.52 mumol/L) were 36 and 15% in the placebo and vitamin A groups, respectively (P < 0.005), and the prevalences of low vitamin A stores (assessed by relative dose response) were 23 and 10%, respectively (P < 0.03). High dose vitamin A supplementation of lactating mothers is an efficacious way to improve the vitamin A status of both mother and breast-fed infant.
Stoltzfus
R J
RJ
Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853-6301.
Hakimi
M
M
Miller
K W
KW
Rasmussen
K M
KM
Dawiesah
S
S
Habicht
J P
JP
Dibley
M J
MJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001942:Breast Feeding; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007214:Indonesia; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry; D009752:Nutritional Status; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood
D014801:Vitamin A