Feeding of red palm oil-supplemented diets to rats may impact positively on vitamin A status.
The impact of feeding of dietary palm oil supplements on plasma vitamin A profile was investigated in animals. Four-week-old Wistar albino rats (n = 8 per group) were maintained for 28 days on standard rat food (4.7% fat by weight) supplemented (10%, 20% and 30% by weight) with red palm oil (RPO) and refined palm olein (REFPO). Plasma beta-carotene and vitamin A concentrations of rats fed RPO-based diets were higher than in rats fed REFPO and control diets. Animals fed 30% RPO-containing diets had lower plasma beta-carotene concentrations than those fed 20% RPO-containing diets. The results suggest that consumption of palm oil in moderate amounts enhances growth of tissues and bioavailability of beta-carotene, which may combat vitamin A deficiency in developing countries, in view of the fact that performed vitamin A in animal products (namely meat, liver, eggs and fatty fish) is out of the reach of economically deprived people.
Edem
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DO
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Uyo, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.
Eka
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OU
Umoh
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IB
D000818:Animals; D004032:Diet; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D004435:Eating; D002149:Energy Intake; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D000073878:Palm Oil; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood*; D015430:Weight Gain; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood
D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D010938:Plant Oils; D019207:beta Carotene; D014801:Vitamin A; D000073878:Palm Oil