Analysis of retinol concentrations in bovine liver and its habitual consumption by pregnant women.
OBJECTIVE
The objectives of this study were to analyze retinol concentrations in two groups of bovine liver, to estimate the habitual consumption of bovine liver among pregnant women, and, based on these data, to evaluate the women's ingestion of vitamin A.


METHODS
60 samples of bovine liver, 30 of the Nelore breed and 30 of undefined breed (UB), were analyzed using the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for retinol dosage. 100 women under care at the University Maternity Hospital Januário Cicco, UFRN, in Natal, RN, Brazil, completed the Frequency of Nourishment Questionnaire.


RESULTS
The mean +/- SD values for the retinol concentrations in the liver samples of the Nelore breed and the UB groups were 16,947.8 +/- 6,866.9 and 5,213.1 +/- 2,517.2 microg of retinol/100 g, respectively. A high number of women consumed liver (73%) and in 71% of the cases the advice for the consumption of this food was provided by qualified professionals.


CONCLUSIONS
It is concluded that the daily consumption of the bovine liver is not recommended for pregnant women, regardless of the genetic origin of the animal. The study alert health professionals of the danger of recommending the ingestion of bovine liver during pregnancy.
Praxedes de Aquino
Rose Cléia
RC
Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Department of Biochemistry, Center of Biosciences, Natal, Brazil.
Pereira de Melo
Illana Louise
IL
da Silva Lourenço
Raquel Maria
RM
Dimenstein
Roberto
R
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000235:genetics; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D008460:Meat / Q000032:analysis; D011247:Pregnancy; D039401:Prenatal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis*; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis*
D014815:Vitamins; D014801:Vitamin A