title: Vitamin A supplementation, serum lipids, liver enzymes and C-reactive protein concentrations in obese women of reproductive age.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  High-dose vitamin A influences glucose and lipid profile; however, the possible effects of moderate doses (25,000 IU/d) are conflicting. We aimed to compare the effect of vitamin A supplementation on several anthropometric and biochemical variables between obese and non-obese women.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was performed on 84 women among whom 56 were obese (body mass index [BMI] 30-35 kg/m(2)) and 28 were non-obese (BMI 18.5-24.9 kg/m(2)). Obese women were randomly divided into two groups: one group received 25,000 IU/d retinyl palmitate and another group received placebo. The third group was age-matched non-obese women who received 25,000 IU/d retinyl palmitate. At baseline and four months after intervention, fasting blood glucose (FBG), lipid profile, C-reactive protein (CRP) and liver enzymes were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Baseline concentrations of serum FBG and triglyceride in the obese vitamin A-treated group were significantly higher compared with the other groups (P = 0.004 and 0.007, respectively). A significant increase in serum FBG (P = 0.026), total cholesterol (TC) (P = 0.004) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (P = 0.016) in the non-obese group and a significant decrease in serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (P = 0.001) in the obese group was observed. Serum CRP increased significantly in the obese vitamin A-treated group (P = 0.03) and serum aspartate transaminase increased significantly in the obese and non-obese groups after vitamin A supplementation (P = 0.008 and 0.001, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment with 25,000 IU/d vitamin A induced a mild elevation in serum lipids, CRP and liver enzymes in obese and non-obese women. Considering the other information about possible side-effects of excess vitamin A, use of vitamin A in this dose and duration should be considered with caution.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Nutrition, Faculty of Health and Nutrition, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, 51666-14711 Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahdieh Abbasalizad
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Farhangi
authors.forename: Seyyed Ali
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Keshavarz
authors.forename: Mohammadreza
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eshraghian
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ostadrahimi
authors.forename: Ali Akbar
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Saboor-Yaraghi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004224:Diterpenes; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood*; D011897:Random Allocation; D000084562:Retinyl Esters; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood*; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D004224:Diterpenes; D007328:Insulin; D000084562:Retinyl Esters; D014280:Triglycerides; D014801:Vitamin A; C014794:retinol palmitate; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase