Who has a high vitamin A intake from plant foods, but a low serum retinol concentration? Data from women in Indonesia.
OBJECTIVE
To examine whether the relationship between vitamin A intake, from plant and animal foods, and vitamin A status is the same throughout a population.


METHODS
Analysis of cross-sectional data on vitamin A intake, vitamin A status, physiological condition and socio-economic status.


METHODS
Central Java, Indonesia.


METHODS
Women with a child < or =24 months old (n = 600).


RESULTS
Mean serum retinol concentration of women with animal vitamin A intake below or above the median (50 RE/d) was 1.28 and 1.38 micromol/L, respectively (P<0.05). For those with intake above the median the distribution curve for serum retinol concentration was shifted towards the right, to higher concentrations. Serum retinol concentration of women with plant vitamin A intake below or above the median (279 RE/d) was 1.30 and 1.36 micromol/L, respectively (P<0.05). Again, the distribution curve for serum retinol was shifted towards higher concentrations for women with an intake above the median, except for the subgroup of 25% with the lowest serum retinol concentration (<1.10 micromol/L). These women did not seem to benefit from their relatively high vegetable intake. They also had the lowest socio-economic status.


CONCLUSIONS
The subgroup that was most in need of vitamin A could not obtain it from plant foods. It may well be that, because of their lower socio-economic status, their hygiene conditions were worse and therefore host-related factors that affect carotene bioavailability, such as parasitic infestation, were less favourable in this group. They depended on supplements and, if affordable, on animal foods, fruits and/or fortified products.
de Pee
S
S
Helen Keller International, Jakarta, Indonesia.
Bloem
M W
MW
Tjiong
R
R
Martini
E
E
Satoto
Gorstein
J
J
Shrimpton
R
R
Muhilal
D000328:Adult; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007214:Indonesia; D007223:Infant; D011939:Mental Recall; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012923:Social Class; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014675:Vegetables / Q000378:metabolism*; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood*
D006454:Hemoglobins; D014801:Vitamin A