title: No enhancing effect of vitamin A administration on iron absorption or body total iron content in preschool children from Chengdu, China.
abstract: To explore the effect of vitamin A supplements on iron metabolic homeostasis for preschoolers. This was a randomized, placebo-controlled and blinded intervention trial with 3- to 6-y old preschoolers. A total of 445 subjects were randomly divided into four groups: a vitamin A supplementation group (group 1, a single oral dose of vitamin A as retinol 200,000 IU), an iron supplement group (group 2, daily oral supplement with the elemental iron 1-2 mg/kg/d for 5 d a week, lasting for 6 mo) a combined vitamin A and iron (group 3) and administration of no vitamin A or iron as a placebo-control (group 4). A total of 387 (95, 98, 90 and 104 from groups 1, 2, 3 and 4) children completed the intervention. After intervention, serum retinol levels of children in group 1 and group 3 was markedly higher than those of children in groups 2 and 4 (p<0.05). The serum ferritin level of children in group 1 significantly decreased after intervention (p<0.05), but increased in group 2 (p<0.05). The sTfR-SF index (TFR-F) and total body iron content (BTIC) showed the same change after intervention. In group 2 and group 3, the levels of TRF-F index and BTIC had statistically increased to the same degree after intervention (p<0.05). The impact of vitamin A intervention on iron metabolic homeostasis was mainly manifested in storage and mobilization; there was no direct effect on total body iron content or iron absorption in the intestine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Health Care, Chengdu Women's & Children's Central Hospital.
authors.forename: Ke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Lan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Hong-yi
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Qin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Meng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mao
mesh_terms: D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000517:prevention & control; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000187:drug effects*; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000090463:Iron Deficiencies; D008297:Male; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000172:deficiency / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D014815:Vitamins / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D014131:Trace Elements; D014815:Vitamins; D014801:Vitamin A; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron