Vitamin A and beta-carotene levels during pregnancy in Gaziantep, Turkey

• Published in: Acta medica Lékarskí fakulty Univerzity Karlovy v Hradci Králove Vol. 47; no. 3; pp. 189 - 193
• Main Authors: Meram, Iclal, Bozkurt, Ali Ihsan, Kilincer, Sahin, Ozcirpici, Birgül, Ozgur, Servet
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Czech Republic Karolinum Press 2004
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; beta Carotene - deficiency; Female; Humans; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications - epidemiology; Turkey - epidemiology; Vitamin A; Vitamin A Deficiency - epidemiology; β-carotene; Turkey
• ISSN: 1211-4286; 1805-9694
• DOI: 10.14712/18059694.2018.90

Vitamin A levels during pregnancy have important influences on the health of pregnant women and the growing fetus. Therefore, plasma vitamin A and beta-carotene concentrations during pregnancy in Turkish women living in Gaziantep city were investigated in a prevalence study. Optimum sample size was determined as 252 for vitamin A deficiency and vitamin A and beta-carotene levels were examined in 427 pregnant women aged 14-44 years. Vitamin A and beta-carotene concentrations were measured spectrophotometrically by Neeld Pearson method. Vitamin A and beta-carotene concentrations in pregnant women were found as 1.14 +/- 0.44 micromol/L, and 1.80 +/- 0.66 micromol/L, respectively. Plasma vitamin A concentrations were found in low levels (<1.05 micromol/L) in 45.5% of pregnant women. Vitamin A deficiency (<0.7 micromol/L) was determined in 16.9% of pregnant women. A mild negative correlation was obtained between the vitamin A concentration and pregnancy period. Vitamin A levels of pregnant women were decreased significantly in the third trimester (p<0.05). The findings of present study suggest that vitamin A levels of pregnant women were poor in the region. Therefore, the intake of vitamin A with foods should be improved. Supplementation of vitamin A might benefit at improving maternal and child health especially in high-risk groups especially in developing countries. Monitoring vitamin A levels in pregnant women is very important for also determining low and high levels.