beta-Carotene deficiency in cholestatic liver disease of childhood is caused by beta-carotene malabsorption.
BACKGROUND
: Depletion of beta-carotene (b-c) has not been extensively studied in children with chronic cholestatic liver disease.


METHODS
: We assessed b-c serum concentration in 53 children with cholestatic liver disease: 19 patients operated on for biliary atresia, 12 with Alagille syndrome, and 22 with progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis. To test b-c absorption, 6 children with chronic cholestasis received a load of 10 mg b-c/kg body weight.


RESULTS
: We found decreased b-c concentrations in 45 patients. The absorption of b-c was not detectable in 5 of 6 children studied.


CONCLUSIONS
: b-c depletion is a common problem of chronic cholestatic liver disease in childhood that can be attributed to disturbed intestinal absorption.
Socha
Piotr
P
Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Immunology, Poland. p.socha@czd.pl
Skorupa
Ewa
E
Pawlowska
Joanna
J
Wierzbicka
Aldona
A
Dhawan
Anil
A
Jankowska
Irena
I
Karczmarewicz
Ela
E
Kubalska
Jolanta
J
Lukaszkiewicz
Jacek
J
Lorenc
Roman
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016738:Alagille Syndrome / Q000097:blood; D001656:Biliary Atresia / Q000097:blood / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000150:complications*; D002780:Cholestasis, Intrahepatic / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D008286:Malabsorption Syndromes / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D055815:Young Adult; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
D019207:beta Carotene