The effect of vitamin A-fortified coconut cooking oil on the serum retinol concentration of Filipino children 4-7 years old.
A 6-month intervention trial was conducted among 542 Filipino children aged 4 to 7 years to determine the effect of vitamin A-fortified coconut cooking oil intake on their vitamin A status and to identify factors that influence this. Children were randomly assigned to the Experimental group, with vitamin A-fortified cooking oil ration; to Control-1 group with unfortified cooking oil ration; and to Control-2 group without cooking oil ration. In all groups, children's serum retinol concentration improved. Relative change in serum retinol concentration was significantly higher among the Experimental group, with one-third of total vitamin A intake coming from vitamin A-fortified cooking oil intake, than in the Control groups, with more than half of intake from other vitamin A-rich foods. Determinants of post-intervention serum retinol concentration included baseline serum retinol concentration, caregiver's education, receipt of high-dose vitamin A capsule, interaction between consumption of vitamin A-fortified cooking oil and of other vitamin A-rich foods, and between households purchasing cooking oil and food expenditure. Intake of vitamin A-fortified cooking oil combined with vitamin A-rich foods was necessary to increase serum retinol concentration. It is recommended to vigorously promote the consumption of vitamin A-fortified cooking oil together with other vitamin A-rich sources to sustain the prevention and control of vitamin A deficiency.
Candelaria
Luz V
LV
Food and Nutrition Research Institute, Department of Science and Technology, DOST Compound, Bicutan, Taguig, Metro Manila, Philippines. lvc@fnri.dost.gov.ph
Magsadia
Clarita R
CR
Velasco
Rowena E
RE
Pedro
Ma Regina A
MR
Barba
Corazon V C
CV
Tanchoco
Celeste C
CC
D000465:Algorithms; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D000074263:Coconut Oil; D003296:Cooking; D005260:Female; D005527:Food, Fortified; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status / Q000187:drug effects; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology
D010938:Plant Oils; D014801:Vitamin A; D000074263:Coconut Oil