Vitamin A and beta-carotene levels during pregnancy in Gaziantep, Turkey.
Vitamin A levels during pregnancy have important influences on the health of pregnant women and the growing fetus. Therefore, plasma vitamin A and beta-carotene concentrations during pregnancy in Turkish women living in Gaziantep city were investigated in a prevalence study. Optimum sample size was determined as 252 for vitamin A deficiency and vitamin A and beta-carotene levels were examined in 427 pregnant women aged 14-44 years. Vitamin A and beta-carotene concentrations were measured spectrophotometrically by Neeld Pearson method. Vitamin A and beta-carotene concentrations in pregnant women were found as 1.14 +/- 0.44 micromol/L, and 1.80 +/- 0.66 micromol/L, respectively. Plasma vitamin A concentrations were found in low levels (<1.05 micromol/L) in 45.5% of pregnant women. Vitamin A deficiency (<0.7 micromol/L) was determined in 16.9% of pregnant women. A mild negative correlation was obtained between the vitamin A concentration and pregnancy period. Vitamin A levels of pregnant women were decreased significantly in the third trimester (p<0.05). The findings of present study suggest that vitamin A levels of pregnant women were poor in the region. Therefore, the intake of vitamin A with foods should be improved. Supplementation of vitamin A might benefit at improving maternal and child health especially in high-risk groups especially in developing countries. Monitoring vitamin A levels in pregnant women is very important for also determining low and high levels.
Meram
Iclal
I
Gaziantep University, Medical Faculty, Turkey: Department of Biochemistry. iclalgeyikli@mynet.com
Bozkurt
Ali Ihsan
AI
Kilincer
Sahin
S
Ozcirpici
Birgül
B
Ozgur
Servet
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000172:deficiency*
D019207:beta Carotene