One-time vitamin A supplementation of lactating sows enhances hepatic retinol in their offspring independent of dose size.
BACKGROUND
Single megadoses of vitamin A between 200,000 and 400,000 IU have been administered to lactating mothers to improve the vitamin A status of both mothers and breastfeeding infants. However, the most beneficial dosing regimen is not known.


OBJECTIVE
The effect of megadoses of vitamin A supplements given to lactating sows on hepatic vitamin A concentrations in their nursing offspring was examined.


METHODS
Lactating sows were given a high (2.1 mmol), low (1.05 mmol), or control (0 mmol) dose of retinyl acetate in oil (n=3 sows per treatment). Piglets nursed for 3 or 14 d, consumed a vitamin A-free diet for the next 4 d, and were then killed. Liver and serum samples were analyzed for vitamin A.


RESULTS
After 3 d, piglets of the control, low-dose, and high-dose sows had different (P=0.034) hepatic vitamin A concentrations, ie, 0.078+/-0.004, 0.14+/-0.053, and 0.13+/-0.026 micromol/g, respectively. Liver vitamin A concentrations on day 18 were 0.069+/-0.004, 0.14+/-0.044, and 0.11+/-0.026 micromol/g in the control, low-dose, and high-dose piglets, respectively (P=0.017). Liver vitamin A concentrations in piglets of the low- and high-dose sows were not significantly different (day 3: P=0.97; day 18: P=0.59). Serum retinol concentrations were higher (P=0.02) at early kill (0.95+/-0.22 micromol/L) than at late kill (0.76+/-0.24 micromol/L) but were not significantly different between groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Maternal vitamin A supplementation enhances liver vitamin A concentrations in offspring. Larger one-time doses are not more effective than are smaller doses. Additional research is needed to determine the most effective maternal dosing regimens for improving infant vitamin A status.
Valentine
Ashley R
AR
University of Wisconsin-Madison, Interdepartmental Graduate Program in Nutritional Sciences, Madison, WI 53706, USA.
Tanumihardjo
Sherry A
SA
D000818:Animals; D000833:Animals, Suckling / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007774:Lactation / Q000378:metabolism*; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry*; D023421:Models, Animal; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011897:Random Allocation; D013552:Swine; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000517:prevention & control
D014801:Vitamin A