title: Effect of consumption of the nutrient-dense, freshwater small fish Amblypharyngodon mola on biochemical indicators of vitamin A status in Bangladeshi children: a randomised, controlled study of efficacy.
abstract: In Bangladesh, some commonly consumed, indigenous, freshwater small fish species (eaten whole with bone, head and eyes) such as mola (Amblypharyngodon mola) are nutrient-dense, containing preformed vitamin A as retinol and especially 3,4-dehydroretinol. The objective of the present randomised, controlled efficacy study was to evaluate the effects of mola on biochemical indicators of vitamin A status. Children (n 196), aged 3-7 years, with serum retinol 0.36-0.75 micromol/l, were randomly allocated to one of three treatment groups to receive a daily test meal (6 d/week for 9 weeks) of rice and vegetable curry (no vitamin A) ad libitum and 50 g fish curry consisting of: (1) mola, 600 retinol activity equivalents (RAE) (using 40 % biological activity of 3,4-dehydroretinol isomers) (experimental group, n 66); (2) rui (Labeo rohita), a large fish (no vitamin A), with added retinyl palmitate, 600 RAE (positive control group, n 65); or (3) rui, 0 RAE (negative control group, n 65). The nutrient compositions of the dishes were analysed. After 9 weeks, no significant treatment effects were observed for serum retinol (P = 0.52) and retinol-binding protein (P = 0.81) in the experimental group compared with the negative control, whereas the positive control improved significantly (P < 0.001). The present results do not suggest conversion of the large amount of 3,4-dehydroretinol in mola curry to retinol. Further research on the functional effect of mola in humans is needed. Mola is a nutrient-dense animal-source food, rich in haem Fe, Zn and especially Ca, thus consumption of mola in Bangladesh should continue to be encouraged.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Nutrition, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Rolighedsvej 30, 1958 Frederiksberg C, Denmark. katjakongsbak@yahoo.dk
authors.forename: Katja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kongsbak
authors.forename: Shakuntala H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Thilsted
authors.forename: Mohammed A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Wahed
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000886:Anthropometry; D001459:Bangladesh; D002648:Child; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003906:Developing Countries; D004224:Diterpenes; D005260:Female; D005399:Fishes; D005504:Food Analysis / Q000379:methods; D005618:Fresh Water; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009753:Nutritive Value; D010349:Patient Compliance; D012177:Retinol-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D000084562:Retinyl Esters; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy*
chemical_list: D004224:Diterpenes; D012177:Retinol-Binding Proteins; D000084562:Retinyl Esters; D014801:Vitamin A; C014794:retinol palmitate