title: Retinyl palmitate supplementation by inhalation of an aerosol improves vitamin A status of preschool children in Gondar (Ethiopia).
abstract: We report successful vitamin A supplementation by inhalation of retinyl palmitate in a placebo-controlled pilot study in twenty-five preschool children (2-5 years of age) in the rural district of Gondar, Ethiopia. Preschool children (n 161) were randomly selected from 220 households. Out of this cohort, twenty-five children were randomly assigned to each of two treatment groups: one receiving retinyl palmitate by inhalation of two puffs of an aerosol containing 1 mg (3000 IU) per delivery to give a total of 2 mg (6000 IU); and the other receiving an aerosol without retinyl palmitate. Both treatments were administered every 2 weeks for 3 months. Serum retinol and retinol-binding protein concentrations in the vitamin A-treated group were 0.68 (SD 0.31) mumol/l and 59.4 (SD 24.2) mg/l before and 1.43 (SD 0.46) mumol/l (P < 0.01) and 97.3 (SD 31.2) mg/l (P < 0.05) 3 months after supplementation with retinyl palmitate, suggesting that this novel method of delivery of retinyl palmitate by inhalation is effective in improving vitamin A status.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biological Chemistry and Nutrition, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany. biesal@uni-hohenheim.de
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Biesalski
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Reifen
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fürst
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Edris
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000336:Aerosols; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004224:Diterpenes; D005002:Ethiopia; D006801:Humans; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012177:Retinol-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D000084562:Retinyl Esters; D012424:Rural Population; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D004224:Diterpenes; D012177:Retinol-Binding Proteins; D000084562:Retinyl Esters; D014801:Vitamin A; C014794:retinol palmitate