Carotene-rich plant foods ingested with minimal dietary fat enhance the total-body vitamin A pool size in Filipino schoolchildren as assessed by stable-isotope-dilution methodology.
BACKGROUND
Strategies for improving the vitamin A status of vulnerable populations are needed.


OBJECTIVE
We studied the influence of the amounts of dietary fat on the effectiveness of carotene-rich plant foods in improving vitamin A status.


METHODS
Schoolchildren aged 9-12 y were fed standardized meals 3 times/d, 5 d/wk, for 9 wk. The meals provided 4.2 mg provitamin A carotenoids/d (mainly beta-carotene) from yellow and green leafy vegetables [carrots, pechay (bok choy), squash, and kangkong (swamp cabbage)] and 7, 15, or 29 g fat/d (2.4, 5, or 10 g fat/meal) in groups A, B, and C (n = 39, 39, and 38, respectively). Other self-selected foods eaten were recorded daily. Before and after the intervention, total-body vitamin A pool sizes and liver vitamin A concentrations were measured with the deuterated-retinol-dilution method; serum retinol and carotenoid concentrations were measured by HPLC.


RESULTS
Similar increases in mean serum beta-carotene (5-fold), alpha-carotene (19-fold), and beta-cryptoxanthin (2-fold) concentrations; total-body vitamin A pool size (2-fold); and liver vitamin A (2-fold) concentrations were observed after 9 wk in the 3 study groups; mean serum retinol concentrations did not change significantly. The total daily beta-carotene intake from study meals plus self-selected foods was similar between the 3 groups and was 14 times the usual intake; total fat intake was 0.9, 1.4, or 2.0 times the usual intake in groups A, B, and C, respectively. The overall prevalence of low liver vitamin A (<0.07 mumol/g) decreased from 35% to 7%.


CONCLUSIONS
Carotene-rich yellow and green leafy vegetables, when ingested with minimal fat, enhance serum carotenoids and the total-body vitamin A pool size and can restore low liver vitamin A concentrations to normal concentrations.
Ribaya-Mercado
Judy D
JD
Jean Mayer US Department of Agriculture Human Nutrition Research Center at Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA. judy.ribaya-mercado@tufts.edu
Maramag
Cherry C
CC
Tengco
Lorena W
LW
Dolnikowski
Gregory G
GG
Blumberg
Jeffrey B
JB
Solon
Florentino S
FS
D000886:Anthropometry; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D001682:Biological Availability; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D002648:Child; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods; D003903:Deuterium; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006373:Helminthiasis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007201:Indicator Dilution Techniques; D007553:Isotope Labeling; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D009753:Nutritive Value; D010679:Philippines; D014675:Vegetables; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
D000975:Antioxidants; D004041:Dietary Fats; D019207:beta Carotene; D014801:Vitamin A; D002338:Carotenoids; D003903:Deuterium