title: Vitamin A and beta-carotene levels during pregnancy in Gaziantep, Turkey.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Gaziantep University, Medical Faculty, Turkey: Department of Biochemistry. iclalgeyikli@mynet.com
authors.forename: Iclal
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Meram
authors.forename: Ali Ihsan
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Bozkurt
authors.forename: Sahin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kilincer
authors.forename: Birgül
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ozcirpici
authors.forename: Servet
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ozgur
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D019207:beta Carotene