Retinol and Betacarotene Status in Mother-Infant Dyads and Associations between Them

Assessing the diet and biochemical indicators of vitamin A deficiency (VAD) in high-risk populations is crucial in cases where this deficiency is mainly caused by chronically inadequate intake. This study aimed to determine the retinol and betacarotene status in mother-infant dyads, and to evaluate...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Annals of nutrition and metabolism Vol. 72; no. 1; p. 50
Main Authors:	Lira, Larissa Q, de Souza, Aline F, Amâncio, Amanda de M, Bezerra, Caroline G, Pimentel, Jéssica B, Moia, Melissa N, Dimenstein, Roberto
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Switzerland 01-02-2018
Subjects:	Adult beta Carotene - blood Colostrum - chemistry Diet - adverse effects Eating - physiology Female Fetal Blood - chemistry Humans Infant, Newborn Male Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena Nutritional Status - physiology Pregnancy Vitamin A - blood Vitamin A Deficiency - blood Vitamin A Deficiency - etiology Prenatal Vitamin A Serum Umbilical cord Breast milk Maternal nutrition
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Summary:	Assessing the diet and biochemical indicators of vitamin A deficiency (VAD) in high-risk populations is crucial in cases where this deficiency is mainly caused by chronically inadequate intake. This study aimed to determine the retinol and betacarotene status in mother-infant dyads, and to evaluate the associations between them. Umbilical cord serum, maternal serum, and colostrum were collected from 134 healthy mothers living in a risk region for VAD. Vitamin A and betacarotene were quantified by liquid chromatography, and dietary information was collected using a food frequency questionnaire. Although the overall mean intakes of vitamin A and betacarotene were considered adequate, 16% of the women had insufficient intake. Mean retinol levels were also adequate, yet low levels were diagnosed in about 8% of the mothers, based on maternal serum and colostrum, and in 16% of the cord serum samples. Retinol and betacarotene were positively associated in cord serum (p = 0.004), maternal serum (p = 0.041), and colostrum (p < 0.001) but was not associated with dietary intake. A diagnosis of adequacy based on mean biochemical and dietary data of this population in fact masks the marginal vitamin A status presented by mothers and children.
ISSN:	1421-9697
DOI:	10.1159/000485042