title: Interaction between vitamin A and iron: effects of supplements in pregnancy.
abstract: Very few reports are available on the vitamin A status of Indian pregnant women in the rural population. The present study was carried out to assess the vitamin A status and the effect of vitamin A and iron supplementation in pregnancy on serum vitamin A levels in the rural women. It was observed that serum vitamin A levels showed a marginal decrease with advancing gestation. Though satisfactory as per WHO guidelines, supplementation with 60 mg of iron prevented this decrease. A higher dose of iron (120 mg) actually resulted in a similar vitamin A status as seen in vitamin A supplemented women. If this preliminary study can be confirmed it would appear that interactions between vitamin A and iron in pregnancy have a positive effect on the vitamin A nutriture.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Nutrition, Indian Council of Medical Research, India.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Shatrugna
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Raman
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Uma
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sujatha
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005527:Food, Fortified; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007501:Iron / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood* / Q000187:drug effects; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D012423:Rural Health; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014944:World Health Organization
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D014801:Vitamin A; D007501:Iron