title: Retinol (vitamin A) and retinal-binding protein serum levels in children with cancer at onset.
abstract: The aim of the study was to evaluate vitamin A (Vit A) plasma levels in children with newly diagnosed neoplasia (NDN) admitted to the Department of Hematology-Oncology of G. Gaslini Institute. Vit A levels, retinol-binding protein (RBP), and nutritional status were evaluated in 54 children with NDN (22 solid tumors other than neuroblastoma, 16 neuroblastomas, 9 lymphomas, 7 acute lymphoblastic leukemia). Biochemical test results were also compared with those of 47 healthy controls (HC) comparable for sex and age. In children with NDN, mean Vit A plasma level results were 350 micrograms/L (95% CI 288-412); in HC they were 517 micrograms/L (95% CI 471-563), P < 0.001. Mean RBP value results were 3.2 mg/dL (95% CI 2.6-3.9) in NDN and 4.9 mg/dL in HC (95% CI 4.5-5.3), P < 0.001. Fifteen (28%) out of 54 children with NDN were classified as well-nourished, 27/54 (50%) were considered at risk of malnutrition, and 12 (22%) were malnourished. Children with NDN presented reduced Vit A and RBP mean values compared with those of HC. Further studies are needed to better evaluate Vit A metabolism in children with cancer at onset.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dietetics, Giannina Gaslini Institute, Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fiore
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Castagnola
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Marchese
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dufour
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Garaventa
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mangraviti
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cornaglia-Ferraris
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000097:blood*; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011228:Prealbumin / Q000032:analysis; D012016:Reference Values; D012177:Retinol-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D054839:Retinol-Binding Proteins, Plasma; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D011228:Prealbumin; D012177:Retinol-Binding Proteins; D054839:Retinol-Binding Proteins, Plasma; D012709:Serum Albumin; D014801:Vitamin A