title: Association of vitamin A and zinc status with altered intestinal permeability: analyses of cohort data from northeastern Brazil.
abstract: To examine the association of intestinal barrier function with vitamin A deficiency and whether supplementation of micronutrients improves intestinal function and/or linear growth, height-for-age z-score (HAZ), concentrations of serum retinol and zinc, and intestinal permeability were determined in a cross-sectional sample of 75 children in northeastern Brazil. Effects of vitamin A and supplementation of zinc on intestinal permeability and growth were also determined comparing results before and after treatment in 20 children and age-matched controls. Lactulose:mannitol (L/M) permeability ratios inversely correlated with serum retinol concentrations (r = -0.55, p < 0.0005). Increased L/M permeability ratios with reduced concentrations of serum retinol were predominantly attributable to lower absorption of mannitol (r = 0.28, p = 0.02). L/M permeability ratios (p = 0.001) and HAZ scores (p = 0.007) improved with supplementation. It is concluded that impaired intestinal barrier function and linear growth shortfalls improve following supplementation of vitamin A and zinc in this setting.
authors.affiliation: Center for Global Health, Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, University of Virginia, Charlottesville 22908, USA.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Alberto Melo
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.forename: Aldo A M
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: Mary V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Gamble
authors.forename: John B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Schorling
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Conway
authors.forename: Leah J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Barrett
authors.forename: William S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Blaner
authors.forename: Richard L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Guerrant
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002199:Capillary Permeability / Q000187:drug effects; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003968:Diarrhea, Infantile / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006128:Growth / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D007792:Lactulose / Q000652:urine; D008297:Male; D008353:Mannitol / Q000652:urine; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D014801:Vitamin A; D008353:Mannitol; D007792:Lactulose; D015032:Zinc